A recent study by non-profit organisation Tales of Turning has found that a significant portion of anti-foreigner misinformation on social media in South Africa is linked to coordinated networks. The research, which analysed social media posts from May 30 to June 30, 2026, used artificial intelligence and human analysis to identify patterns of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and coordinated amplification. The report discovered that 27% of the anti-foreigner narrative analysed was linked to a disinformation network of disruptor and bot accounts.
Tales of Turning's research identified a recurring narrative that portrays South Africans as citizens, taxpayers, and patriots under threat, while foreign nationals are characterised as illegal invaders, criminals, or economic threats. This framing is often connected to genuine social problems such as unemployment, crime, housing shortages, and pressure on public services. However, reducing these complex issues to a single explanation, that foreign nationals are responsible, can turn legitimate frustration into hostility towards an entire group.
Disinformation campaigns use divide-and-rule strategies to erode social trust and force people into opposing sides. They present one group as a serious threat to another, making it harder for people to find common ground or consider different perspectives. The aim is to turn disagreement into fear and hostility, encouraging people to see those on the other side as enemies rather than people with different views. This can have serious consequences, including the potential for street-level violence or the closure of local businesses.
The illusion of consensus can be created through coordinated amplification, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine public opinion and artificially amplified content. Social media can make repeated claims appear more credible simply because they are encountered repeatedly. The same slogans, hashtags, and messages may appear across numerous accounts, creating the impression that a large section of society shares the same view.
The problem is compounded by emotionally charged videos and posts that encourage immediate reactions before users have established where a video originated, when it was recorded, or whether its accompanying claims are accurate. Misinformation does not necessarily spread because people believe everything they see; sometimes it spreads because the message confirms what they already suspect. The grievances are real, and South Africans have legitimate concerns about exclusion, unemployment, crime, and public services.
However, those concerns cannot simply be dismissed as products of online manipulation. The danger arises when genuine grievances are redirected towards a particular group. Tales of Turning warns that when online campaigns contribute to street-level violence or the closure of local businesses, the underlying causes of hardship remain unresolved. Not every angry post is coordinated, and not every person sharing an anti-foreigner message is part of a disinformation network.
The challenge is identifying when legitimate public frustration is being exploited. Before sharing the next post that makes you angry, pause and ask what evidence is being presented. Ask whether you are being offered a solution or simply someone to blame. And perhaps ask the most important question of all: Who benefits if I believe this? In an information environment where outrage can travel faster than verification, sometimes the most powerful response is simply to pause before pressing "share".
Key points
- 27% of anti-foreigner misinformation on social media in South Africa is linked to coordinated networks.
- Disinformation campaigns use divide-and-rule strategies to erode social trust and force people into opposing sides.
- The illusion of consensus can be created through coordinated amplification, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine public opinion and artificially amplified content.
