By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Fake news threatens long-standing marriage: A tale of disinformation.
A former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recently shared a harrowing experience where fake news nearly shattered his 40-year-old marriage. Speaking at an event commemorating Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday in Lagos, Mohammed recounted the toll misinformation took on his personal life.
During his tenure as minister, Mohammed grappled with the pervasive spread of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. However, it wasn’t until fake news hit close to home that he fully realized its destructive power.
One fateful night in 2018, Mohammed’s wife woke him up at 3 a.m., shaken by a false story circulating on social media. She earnestly believed that Mohammed, along with other government officials, had stashed away billions of dollars in overseas accounts. The accusation rocked Mohammed to his core, as he struggled to convince his wife of the absurdity of the claims.
Despite his efforts to debunk the false narrative, Mohammed’s wife remained unconvinced, haunted by the relentless rumors propagated by social media. The incident strained their relationship, casting doubt and suspicion where trust once flourished.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Mohammed underscored the pervasive nature of fake news, which not only threatens marriages but also undermines democratic processes and public safety. He lamented the erosion of trust in media due to the unchecked proliferation of misinformation.
In his call to action, Mohammed urged for robust regulatory frameworks to hold social media platforms accountable for amplifying false information. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to detect and remove harmful content, prioritizing the integrity of information over profit motives.
As Mohammed’s story illustrates, the consequences of fake news extend far beyond the digital realm, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Fake News, Disinformation