Researcher associate at fact-checking platform, DUBAWA, Cole Praise, has raised concerns over the growing use of social media to spread propaganda, warning that even free societies are not immune to manipulation.
Praise stated this while speaking on Voice of Freedom, a special segment of General Issues with the General on Adamimogo 105.1 FM, Ibadan. The programme is supported by the Liberalist Centre with funding from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Atlas Network.
According to him, governments, institutions, and even individuals are exploiting digital platforms to shape opinions with falsehoods.
“The most viral and common tool is social media. People post things online without verifying them, and because information spreads so quickly, many simply believe what they see without questioning its source,” he said.
He recalled how misinformation thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, with unverified treatments such as drinking salt water spreading rapidly on WhatsApp and Facebook.
“Once people see those things, they don’t bother to verify or cross-check. They just share. That is why our digital spaces are flooded with misinformation,” Praise lamented.
The researcher described the problem as an “information deficiency,” stressing that many users fail to interrogate viral claims. “There is a form of illiteracy online. People don’t stop to ask, ‘Is this true? Where did it come from?’ They just believe it because it went viral,” he added.
On the difference between persuasion and manipulation, Praise explained that while persuasion is rooted in truth and gives citizens a choice, manipulation thrives on lies, doctored images, and twisted narratives. “In politics and economics, both play big roles. The danger is when manipulation overwhelms persuasion and people no longer know what to believe,” he warned.
He maintained further that the fight against propaganda must be anchored on media literacy, urging Nigerians to cultivate critical thinking and fact-check information before spreading it. “The freedom we think we have is only real if we can protect ourselves from lies. Otherwise, it’s an illusion,” he said.
The Voice of Freedom series, now a weekly broadcast, seeks to equip citizens with the skills to identify false narratives and strengthen democratic values by resisting manipulation.
