In an age where public opinion forms faster than investigations, social media has negatively enhanced false accusations, turning digital spaces into arenas of instant judgment. Platforms once built for expression and connection now serve as loudspeakers for outrage, often spreading claims before anyone checks if they’re true.
The problem lies in speed. Anyone can make an accusation that reaches millions of people in minutes with just a tweet, a video, or a brief post. Before the facts can catch up, the emotional responses, such as pity, rage, and condemnation, occur rapidly. Regardless of the ultimate truth or result, the accused frequently suffers long-lasting harm as people rush to share and remark.
A recent example from Nigeria illustrates this perfectly. Earlier this week, a woman accused an inDrive rider in Lagos of robbery, posting her story on X (formerly Twitter). Within hours, the post went viral, gathering millions of views and igniting public outrage. The accused driver, James Oluwatoyin, denied the claims, explaining that his car’s light went off unexpectedly and that he pulled over for safety when street youths approached demanding money. According to reports, inDrive investigated the case, found inconsistencies in the initial report, and suspended the driver’s account pending a police probe.
Before any official conclusion, however, the man’s name and photo had already circulated across social media. Many had labeled him a criminal, while few paused to verify...
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