When one click shapes public opinion: disinformation’s grip on Cameroon’s digital spaces 📲🇨🇲

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It takes just a single click — a WhatsApp status, a viral Facebook post — for thousands of Cameroonians to see a piece of information, rarely pausing to check if it’s true. Over the last decade, as internet access has expanded, social platforms have shifted from spaces of casual entertainment to battlefields for public opinion. Between fake accounts, polarizing content, and viral rumors, disinformation is corroding trust and reshaping the democratic conversation.

Fake accounts, the invisible weapons of manipulation 👤

On Facebook, it’s not uncommon to stumble on profiles with odd names, no real photos, yet hyperactive in political debates. Many of these fake accounts — sometimes run from abroad — are designed to seed division. Their strategy: pump out shocking, unverifiable posts that stir outrage and split audiences.

“Many of these accounts pop up during election seasons, releasing waves of coordinated posts meant to sway citizens. At any given moment, new content appears, all with the aim of distracting the public,” explains Aye Money, a cybersecurity expert.

On WhatsApp and Telegram, the problem is even harder to contain. Messages spread from group to group, almost impossible to trace. Once a rumor starts circulating, even if it’s completely false, it can quickly harden into “truth” — forwarded endlessly by those who take it at face value.

Polarizing content: fuel for division ⚡

Disinformation thrives on emotion — anger, fear, indignation. By tapping into existing social fractures around ethnicity, politics, or religion, viral posts intensify tensions already simmering beneath the surface.

One striking example was the circulation of videos allegedly showing a religious leader in compromising situations. Within hours, they had been shared thousands of times. Even after the parish’s communications office denied the claims, the damage was done.

“Online, first impressions often stick. Even if the truth comes out later, people rarely change their minds. That’s what we’re seeing now with Monseigneur — the authenticity of the video hasn’t been proven, but it hardly matters anymore,” says Mireille, a university student.

The impact on Cameroon’s fragile democracy 🗳️

In a society where trust in institutions is already shaky, disinformation deepens the cracks. It hardens positions, radicalizes citizens, and shuts down the possibility of calm debate.

“Back in the day, we’d argue in the neighborhood about what we read in newspapers or heard on the radio. Now, it’s screenshots and viral videos that shape our conversations. And often, without realizing it, we’re debating lies. We need to take a step back before commenting or sharing,” laments François, a civil servant.

This erosion of trust undermines democratic processes. When civic mobilization is built on rumors, decision-making can be skewed, leaving communities divided and hostile over issues that could have been points of unity.

What everyday people are saying 🗣️

Citizens’ experiences with disinformation vary, but they reveal a common challenge.

Aline, a trader, admits:
“I once forwarded a WhatsApp message thinking I was helping, but later I found out it was fake. I was embarrassed. Now I try to double-check, but it’s not always easy.”

Benoît, a blogger, argues that responsibility doesn’t lie solely with users:
“Fake news isn’t just an issue for casual internet users. Sometimes, it serves the interests of certain actors who let it spread on purpose. The goal is manipulation — to stoke tension between people who fall into the trap.”

Carine, a journalist, highlights the professional strain:
“Social media has become our primary reporting ground, but also the most treacherous. We spend more time debunking than informing. It’s exhausting having to do that every single day because false stories never stop circulating.”

An urgent challenge for tomorrow 🚨

Disinformation isn’t just an online nuisance. It shapes street conversations, influences real-world decisions, and feeds resentment even within families. More dangerously, it eats away at the trust that democracy needs to survive.

If left unchecked, facts could lose their place as the foundation of civic life — replaced by illusions. A nation unable to separate truth from falsehood stumbles blindly, always at risk of tripping over its own gullibility.

At its core, democracy cannot function without a shared sense of truth. If “truth” itself becomes relative, Cameroon risks sinking deeper into a reality where rumors — not facts — set the agenda.

👉 Your turn !!
Do you think Cameroonians take enough time to fact-check before sharing information online?