A "paradigm shift" must take place with regard to the way "media has played its role", according to Adv. Pansy Tlakula, Chairperson of the Information Regulator of South Africa.
"The media in some countries continue to see its role only as the anti-government role where they expose the wrongs of the government such as corruption and so on. That is important and that has to continue. But I think that has to be balanced against providing ordinary people with information that would enable them to change their lives," she says.
However, Adv. Tlakula believes that Africans must "tell their own stories", in order to provide the world wit haccurate information about the continent.
"People who write about Africa from outside Africa, they really have no information about the true African stories, what makes the people of Africa to be who we are, the values that are espoused by African people," Ms. Tlakula explains.
The digital age we live in today comes with its own pros and cons. One should avoid "sharing personal information" and use a VPN "to encrypt your online activity", according to Daniel Adeyemi, a tech journalist.
"I think it's very important to be cautious about this. And these are some tips that I believe would help people to not be taken advantage of," Daniel says.
To hear what else the experts had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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