As South Africa approaches the pivotal 2026 local government elections, a newly released factsheet by the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) reveals that the worsening urban water crisis is taking centre stage in political discourse, particularly on social media. Read the full article
This factsheet from the Centre for Analytics & Behavioural Change (CABC) examines the anti-immigrant conversation taking place across social media platforms, blogs and other online sources in South Africa on 30 January 2026. The date is significant as it marks the deadline of an ultimatum issued by anti-immigrant leaders associated with March and March, who …
Factsheet: Xenophobic Social Media Conversation in South Africa – 30 June 2026 Read More »
This report examines how LGBTQIA+ identities, rights and communities are framed, contested and defended within South African social media discourse on X.com between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026. Drawing on more than 909 250 mentions from over 156 830 unique authors, the analysis shows that queer norms remain highly contested online: hostile narratives …
Social media has become a key space for anti-immigrant social media conversation in South Africa, shaping how people discuss migration, nationality and belonging. While online platforms can support healthy public debate, they can also amplify hostile narratives, misinformation, stereotyping and calls for exclusion directed at migrants and foreign nationals. Monitoring this conversation matters because online …
Factsheet on anti-immigrant social media conversation in South Africa Read More »
Policy and regulatory environments have not kept pace with Social Media platforms’ evolution. There is broad recognition of content moderation challenges. However, there is far less agreement on concrete ways to address these challenges. Significant policy gaps persist. These enable extreme online harassment with little accountability. Women journalists suffer sustained, often gendered abuse that undermines …
Following the Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere and the listener conversations it sparked, Lester Kiewit speaks to Kyle Janse, researcher at the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change, about how the internet is shaping ideas of masculinity.
The SM4P project seeks to enhance the resilience of societies against harmful online content. In a collaborative effort, the Centre for Analytics and Behaviour Change and Moxii Africa hosted the Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project at Radisson Red Rosebank on March 17. Read the full article
This factsheet examines how Gauteng’s water crisis has become a political flashpoint ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Analysing social media reactions to Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s “hotel shower” remark, it explores how public outrage, opposition messaging and online amplification are shaping service delivery narratives and electoral discourse. Read full report
False posts targeting TV presenter Pabi Moloi have reignited concerns about the real-world harm caused by viral misinformation in South Africa. Weak moderation on major platforms continues to fuel harassment, distort public opinion, and put individuals at risk. Kirsten Pearson, activist and development practitioner from the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (@TheCABC), joins @TsepisoMakwetla …
Smile 90.4FM The Honest Truth with Benito Vergotine, Uncovers how mainstream platforms have become enablers of child exploitation, with senior researcher at the Center for Analytics and Behavioral Change, Kyle Janse. Watch now
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