the monitor

wo Truths and a Lie: The Power of Social Media

In recent years, social media has brandished immense power, compelling traditional media to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. T

Newspapers, once thriving with substantial print runs, have seen their circulation diminish, pushing them to embrace social media to stay relevant and sustain their operations. The immediacy and reach of digital platforms allow news to spread rapidly and across borders, a shift that has presented newspapers with both opportunities and challenges.

While the integration of social media into news dissemination has brought some positive effects, it has also introduced significant drawbacks. Social media’s expansive reach has, unfortunately, come at the expense of journalistic integrity. The ease with which information can be shared has led to a surge in unverified or incomplete news being spread by self-proclaimed journalists and ordinary users alike. In the rush to be first, the need for accuracy and sensitivity often falls by the wayside. In some cases, families are confronted with news of their loved ones' deaths or accidents through social media before receiving it directly from relatives, an issue that can be deeply distressing.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up