The Erosion of Trust and the Rise of Grassroots Solutions in a Misinformation Age
The past decade has witnessed a troubling decline in civic trust across democracies worldwide. Hyperpolarization, the strengthening of ties between authoritarian regimes, and evolving threats to democratic institutions have become increasingly common. Exacerbating these challenges is the pervasive spread of misinformation (misleading information) and disinformation (deliberately false information), which not only hinders informed decision-making among voters but also undermines faith in media, government, and electoral processes. As nations grapple with these complex issues, grassroots strategies have emerged as a powerful and effective complement to policy interventions in combating the detrimental influence of inaccurate and harmful information.
Grassroots organizations, possessing deep-rooted connections within communities, serve as trusted voices uniquely positioned to identify and counter misinformation effectively. Their close proximity to the issues affecting the people they serve allows for a nuanced understanding of the specific types of misinformation circulating and the most effective methods for addressing them. These organizations play a crucial role in building community resilience to future misinformation tactics through a three-pronged approach: (1) strengthening information ecosystems through civic, democratic, and media education; (2) fostering long-term civil society coalitions focused on fact-checking and community building; and (3) implementing localized community engagement activities to amplify trusted voices and counter misinformation narratives.
Leveraging Community Connections for Enhanced Impact
The power of grassroots efforts lies in their ability to enhance the impact and efficacy of policy-based tactics designed to strengthen information ecosystems. By directly engaging with communities, these initiatives fill critical gaps and ensure that top-down strategies are relevant and accessible to those most vulnerable to misinformation. Two examples from Brazil and the United States highlight how civil society leaders are working to empower informed publics through distinct yet complementary approaches. Jeanine Abrams McLean, a scientist turned democracy entrepreneur leading Fair Count in the United States, emphasizes the importance of data accuracy, recognizing that misinformation directly impedes the ability of communities to build and exercise civic power. Meanwhile, Gabriel Marmentini, co-founder of the Brazilian civic education institute Politize!, focuses on equipping citizens with the tools and knowledge to navigate and counteract false information, empowering them to become active and engaged participants in their democracy. Their experiences, along with those of other Keseb Democracy Fellows from Brazil, South Africa, and the United States, demonstrate the effectiveness of various grassroots strategies across diverse democratic contexts.
Strategy 1: Strengthening Information Ecosystems Through Education
Central to combating misinformation is the implementation of locally relevant civic, democratic, and media education programs. Civic education equips individuals with diverse political knowledge and the tools to participate in the production of high-quality, trustworthy information. Democratic education fosters autonomy and establishes fundamental principles for a tolerant and healthy society. Media education empowers individuals to understand and access diverse information sources, including alternative and independent media. Equipping citizens with these navigational tools is essential for empowering them to critically evaluate the information they encounter.
In Brazil, the fragility of the information ecosystem is a significant challenge, with many citizens living in "news deserts" lacking access to high-quality, diverse information. The prevalence of WhatsApp and other social media platforms, while offering avenues for communication, also contributes to the spread of misinformation and the formation of echo chambers. This vulnerability to misinformation can lead to decisions based on false premises, fueling polarization and increasing the risk of political violence. Politize! addresses this crisis by producing free and unbiased digital content and civic education campaigns, reaching millions of users and training thousands of civic leaders and educators. Their innovative use of games and artificial intelligence, exemplified by the IAgora project, aims to further enhance citizens’ ability to recognize and counter online manipulation and misinformation tactics.
Strategy 2: Building Coalitions for Fact-Checking and Community Building
The development of long-term civil society coalitions for fact-checking and community building is crucial in the fight against election-related misinformation. South Africa provides valuable insights into how grassroots strategies can restore trust in information and strengthen democratic resilience. Facing a surge in misinformation campaigns ahead of the 2024 general election, South Africa saw initiatives such as the partnership between the Independent Electoral Commission, Media Monitoring Africa, tech companies, and fact-checking coalitions like Africa Check. The inclusion of grassroots organizations like SECTION27 in these coalitions proved particularly effective, leveraging their community mobilization networks to distribute accurate voting information and counter misinformation.
The Africa Check model, combining national and international media, fact-checking entities, and grassroots organizations, offers a valuable template for other democracies. The reach of media and fact-checking organizations is often limited in reaching vulnerable communities, while grassroots organizations typically lack the resources for comprehensive misinformation monitoring. These partnerships create a synergistic pipeline, supplying grassroots organizations with the necessary information to inform their communities and effectively combat misinformation narratives. Sustaining these partnerships beyond election cycles, engaging organizations like Amandla.mobi and Rivonia Circle, can significantly amplify misinformation mitigation efforts year-round.
Strategy 3: Localized Engagement and Amplifying Trusted Voices
Localized community engagement and the amplification of trusted voices are essential for effectively countering misinformation and reinforcing trust in democratic processes. In the United States, organizations like Keep Our Republic and Fair Count are implementing innovative strategies to address these challenges. Keep Our Republic collaborates with local election officials to host community conversations, equipping individuals with accurate information to counter pervasive election-related conspiracy theories. Fair Count utilizes tele-town halls to engage communities, addressing locally relevant misinformation themes and providing accurate information from trusted local experts. These interactive conversations provide a platform for community members to voice their concerns and receive real-time responses, building resilience against misinformation and strengthening democratic principles.
Sustaining Efforts Beyond Election Cycles
The fight against misinformation requires ongoing vigilance and adaptation. As misinformation tactics evolve, so too must the strategies employed to counter them. The experiences from Brazil, South Africa, and the United States underscore the importance of locally relevant civic education, community engagement, and tailored solutions. These strategies are particularly effective in reaching neglected communities due to the extensive reach of the civil society organizations implementing them. It is crucial to recognize that addressing misinformation is not solely an election-year concern but requires a continuous, transversal approach. Citizenship is a lifelong endeavor, and supporting the work of civil society organizations is paramount in fostering informed and engaged communities capable of navigating the complex information landscape and safeguarding democratic values.