Think Before You Share: Campaign Addresses Misinformation Risks

In the age of digital information overload, Dubawa Ghana’s editor Nathan Gadugah has issued a stark warning to the public about the consequences of consuming and sharing unverified information. Speaking at a University of Ghana seminar titled “Think Before You Share,” Gadugah emphasized that the quality of information directly impacts the quality of decisions people make in their daily lives.

“When you receive quality information, you make quality decisions. When you receive poor information, you make poor decisions,” Gadugah stated during the media literacy advocacy initiative designed to help students identify and combat false information circulating online.

The campaign comes at a critical time when access to information has reached unprecedented levels due to the proliferation of internet connectivity and social media platforms across Ghana and beyond. While this digital revolution has created opportunities for citizens to stay informed, it has simultaneously facilitated the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.

Gadugah highlighted how today’s citizens rely heavily on information when making crucial decisions about governance, business relationships, and everyday activities. When this information is false or misleading, he warned, it can lead to poor decision-making with potentially harmful consequences for individuals and society at large.

The seminar particularly targeted young people and students who are among the most active demographic on social media platforms. University students, who often serve as information conduits between digital spaces and their communities, were encouraged to develop critical thinking skills when consuming online content.

“Society has entered an era where access to information is easier than ever before,” Gadugah explained, noting the double-edged nature of this development. The democratization of information has created unprecedented access but also removed many traditional gatekeeping functions that once helped filter factual information from falsehoods.

Of particular concern is the potential damage to democratic institutions and public trust. Gadugah warned that persistent exposure to false information could significantly undermine confidence in state institutions, including electoral bodies, government agencies, and media organizations. When misleading narratives about these institutions circulate repeatedly, citizens may become increasingly skeptical of legitimate information sources, creating a dangerous cycle of distrust.

The “Think Before You Share” initiative aims to break this cycle by equipping students with practical skills to identify suspicious content, verify information before sharing, and promote responsible social media use. The campaign represents part of a broader effort to improve media literacy among Ghana’s youth population, who will shape the future information landscape.

Dubawa Ghana, part of a growing network of fact-checking organizations across West Africa, works to counter misinformation through rigorous fact-checking methodologies. Gadugah explained that this process involves verifying claims circulating in traditional media and on social platforms before publishing evidence-based findings to correct false narratives.

The organization’s work has become increasingly vital in Ghana’s vibrant but sometimes fragmented media environment, where social messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook serve as primary news sources for many citizens, often without the editorial oversight found in traditional media.

Media literacy advocates suggest that educational institutions have a crucial role to play in preparing students to navigate this complex information landscape. By integrating critical thinking and digital literacy skills into educational curricula, universities like the University of Ghana are working to create more discerning information consumers.

As Ghana approaches future electoral cycles and faces ongoing public health and economic challenges, the ability of citizens to distinguish between accurate and false information will remain essential to the country’s democratic development and social cohesion.