Think Before You Share: Campaign Warns Against Misinformation Risks

In an era dominated by social media and rapid information sharing, media literacy expert Nathan Gadugah is urging the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information online. The editor of Dubawa Ghana 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 a recent seminar at the University of Ghana. The event was part of the university’s “Think Before You Share” campaign, a media literacy initiative designed to arm students with the skills necessary to identify and combat false information circulating online.

Gadugah highlighted that we now live in an unprecedented information age where access to content is easier than ever before. While this connectivity has created valuable opportunities for people to stay informed, it has simultaneously facilitated the spread of false and misleading content at alarming rates.

The consequences of this misinformation epidemic extend far beyond individual decision-making. According to Gadugah, people rely on information for critical decisions ranging from voting choices in elections to purchasing products and forming opinions on public issues. When that information is compromised, the results can be detrimental both personally and societally.

Of particular concern is the impact on democratic institutions. Gadugah warned that persistent exposure to false information gradually erodes public trust in essential institutions. When misleading narratives about electoral bodies, government agencies, and media organizations circulate unchecked, citizens begin to question the legitimacy of these institutions.

“This systematic degradation of trust represents one of the most significant threats to stable governance in the digital age,” Gadugah explained. The erosion of institutional trust can create fertile ground for polarization and civic disengagement, particularly among young people who consume most of their information online.

The University of Ghana’s “Think Before You Share” campaign aims to counter these trends by raising awareness about misinformation and equipping students with practical verification skills. The initiative encourages responsible social media use and promotes critical thinking as essential tools for navigating today’s complex information landscape.

Dubawa Ghana, where Gadugah serves as an editor, is one of several fact-checking organizations working actively to combat the spread of misinformation across Africa. These organizations verify claims circulating in traditional media and on social platforms, publishing evidence-based findings to correct false narratives before they can spread further.

Media literacy experts point out that Ghana, like many countries worldwide, has seen a significant increase in misinformation during election periods and public health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, demonstrated how quickly false information could circulate and potentially influence public health outcomes.

Educational institutions across Ghana are increasingly incorporating media literacy into their curricula in response to these challenges. University programs, like the one at the University of Ghana, represent an important front line in the battle against misinformation by targeting young adults who are both heavy consumers and disseminators of online content.

As social media platforms continue to evolve and artificial intelligence makes detecting manipulated content more difficult, initiatives like “Think Before You Share” become increasingly vital. The campaign represents a proactive approach to building resilience against misinformation through education rather than solely relying on platform-based solutions or regulatory approaches.

Gadugah’s message to students emphasized personal responsibility in the information ecosystem. “Each share, like, or comment can either contribute to a healthier information environment or help propagate harmful falsehoods,” he noted, urging students to become more conscious digital citizens.