• Posting your thumb and factual statements to social media after you vote is fine, just don’t post misinformation or your marked ballot.
• The SAPS has said it will be monitoring social media throughout the election process.
• All tolled, it may be best to avoid social media altogether where possible until the elections and counting are complete.

Tomorrow millions of South Africans will head to the polls in what is being called the most important elections since 1994.

As millions cast their vote some may be tempted to share their experience with their followers in a bid to get them to vote. While that’s fine, there is a line you should try not to cross when it comes to sharing content on election day.

“In a time where every post, like, and share carries significant weight, navigating social media on election day requires a delicate balance between freedom of expression and electoral integrity,” senior vice president of content strategy at KnowBe4 Africa, Anna Collard explains. “With the country’s political future hanging in the balance, understanding the dos and don’ts of online content sharing becomes paramount.”

So what can you post? Images of you waiting in the queue are fine as are the thumb photos (just please trim your nails and make sure they’re clean) and even sharing your experience of voting. You can also post factual information.

As for what you shouldn’t post, it should go without saying but your marked ballot paper is a big no no. Even if you don’t care who knows who you voted for, sharing that information goes against the spirit of South Africa’s elections and may get your vote invalidated.

You also want to avoid any content that could be interpreted as campaigning.

“Posting content that could be seen as an attempt to persuade voters on election day itself is prohibited,” Collard says. “This includes sharing political campaigning material, party slogans or anything that promotes a specific party or candidate.”

Finally, misinformation is a big no-no in the coming days. The South African Police Service (SAPS) says that its cybercrime units and intelligence officers at the NATJOINTS Coordination Centre in Tshwane are keeping an eye on social media in the days ahead so be wary misinformation peddlers.

For those not spreading untruths, it’s best to approach news about the elections with an abundance of caution.

“Trust nothing you see trending on social media, even if it sounds and looks real,” cautions Collard. “Be wary of content that seems designed to elicit a strong emotional response.”

If you are unsure if the news is real or false, there are several useful sites to help cross-reference election information, such as Africa Check and Padre. Fake news and misinformation should be reported as soon as it’s spotted.

Overall, it may just be best to avoid social media on Wednesday. Cast your vote and enjoy the free public holiday with friends, family or both. With that having been said, in the days following the election there is still the potential for misinformation to pop up so be careful about who and what you trust.

[Image – Thor Deichmann from Pixabay]