Countering Disinformation to promote Social Cohesion

In a recent USAID-sponsored study to understand the drivers of violent extremism in four coastal West African countries, including Togo, it clearly appeared that "Fake news" plays a large part in the vulnerability factors that can lead to extremist acts. Young people who use the internet (especially Facebook and WhatsApp) are regularly confronted, at some point, with disinformation, falsified information or scams. To effectively deal with these, media literacy, critical thinking and cybersecurity skills are vital components of 21st-century life. Regional TechCamp Togo: Digital Cohesion in the Disinformation Age will connect young Togolese, Ivoirians, Guineans and Beninese and other civil society leaders, social entrepreneurs and aspiring journalists with the skills they need to strengthen their communities through capacity building and media literacy in the region to avoid Fake News and other drivers of violent extremism.