Social media platforms

Intro: The search engine Google released a report yesterday stating that they have cracked down on over three hundred websites last year and two hundred of those are no longer allowed to use Google ads. This comes after social media platforms such as Facebook received negative criticism of failing to minimize false news stories during last year’s US presidential election last year. The biggest fake news scandal making headlines on the continent is over allegations that the ANC conducted a covert operation aimed at discrediting opposition parties ahead of the 2016 Local Government Election. To help us unpack and discuss this further we are joined on the line by:• Anim Van Wyk, editor at Africa Check.• Dr Musawenkosi Ndlovu, senior lecturer of media studies at the University of Cape Town • Yavi Mudarai, social media trends expert