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FAKE NEWS DISSEMINATION ON WHATSAPP GROUPS: PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES AMONG RESIDENTS IN KANO CITY, KANO STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The widespread adoption of smartphones and affordable data in Nigeria has positioned WhatsApp as a dominant communication tool, particularly for sharing news, family matters, community updates, and political information through closed groups. In Kano City, a bustling commercial and cultural center in northern Nigeria with a large, diverse population, WhatsApp groups serve as primary channels for rapid information exchange among residents, traders, religious communities, and youth networks. However, the platform’s features such as end-to-end encryption, easy forwarding, and group dynamics enable unchecked dissemination of fake news, defined as fabricated or misleading content presented as factual information.
Fake news on WhatsApp has posed serious challenges in Nigeria, especially during elections, security incidents, and public crises. In the 2023 general elections, WhatsApp facilitated the viral spread of doctored images, false election results, and ethnically divisive narratives, contributing to tensions and mistrust (FactCheckHub, 2026; Cheeseman et al., 2020). Northern Nigeria, including Kano, has been particularly vulnerable, with misinformation amplifying rumors about banditry, farmer-herder clashes, religious issues, and governance, often leading to panic or unrest.
Recent developments underscore the issue’s persistence. In late 2025, the Kano State Government repeatedly debunked viral security threat rumors circulating on social media and WhatsApp, warning against fake news that could incite panic (TVC News, 2025; MSN, 2025). Authorities, including the Kano Police Commissioner, declared zero tolerance for hate speech and fake news in 2026, citing risks to peace ahead of future elections (PRNigeria, 2026). A systematic review of fake news dissemination on WhatsApp (2018–2024) highlights how encryption and group forwarding accelerate spread in low-media-literacy contexts like Nigeria (Ajijola, 2025). In Kano, where WhatsApp is a key source for local news amid ongoing security concerns, residents frequently encounter unverified claims about attacks, economic policies, or communal conflicts.
Studies show users often forward sensational content impulsively for social bonding or altruism, exacerbating dissemination (Ndubueze, 2025; Apuke & Omar, 2020). Initiatives like AI-powered WhatsApp chatbots for fact-checking in Hausa and other languages emerged in 2026 to counter this (TheCable, 2026). This study investigates perceptions and experiences of fake news dissemination on WhatsApp groups among Kano City residents, offering localized insights into a persistent digital challenge in northern Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The widespread use of WhatsApp in Kano City has facilitated the dissemination of fake news, yet there is a lack of localized empirical research examining residents’ perceptions and experiences of this phenomenon. The platform’s private, group-based architecture enables misinformation to propagate rapidly within trusted networks, which undermines public understanding, diminishes trust in institutions, and may incite social unrest in a region already characterized by ethnic, religious, and security tensions (Ndubueze, 2025).
In Kano, fake news has exacerbated rumors of impending crises, exemplified by the circulation of debunked 2025 security alerts that generated unnecessary public alarm (TVC News, 2025). Low media literacy, coupled with a heavy reliance on WhatsApp as a news source, contributes to the impulsive sharing and acceptance of false narratives (Ajijola, 2025). While national studies have explored WhatsApp’s role in election-related misinformation (FactCheckHub, 2026), research addressing Kano-specific dynamics remains limited. This gap impedes the development of effective countermeasures by authorities, educators, and fact-checkers, thereby sustaining threats to social cohesion and informed civic engagement in Kano City.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
- To examine the patterns of fake news dissemination on WhatsApp groups among residents in Kano City.
- To assess residents’ perceptions of fake news encountered on WhatsApp in Kano City.
- To explore residents’ experiences and responses to fake news on WhatsApp groups in Kano City.
1.4 Research Questions
- What are the patterns of fake news dissemination on WhatsApp groups among residents in Kano City?
- How do residents in Kano City perceive fake news encountered on WhatsApp?
- What are the experiences and responses of residents in Kano City to fake news on WhatsApp groups?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study enriches mass communication literature by providing region-specific data on fake news in a major northern Nigerian city, addressing gaps in localized research. Findings can inform media literacy campaigns, community workshops, and policy measures by Kano State government, police, and NGOs to curb misinformation. Fact-checkers and journalists gain insights into dissemination patterns for improved verification in Hausa-speaking contexts. Residents benefit through heightened awareness of responsible sharing, fostering digital citizenship and reducing harms from fake news in Kano and analogous urban settings.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on residents of Kano City, Kano State, Nigeria, who participate in WhatsApp groups. It examines perceptions, experiences, and dissemination patterns of fake news on the platform. Participants are adults aged 18 and above. The temporal scope includes recent events from 2023 elections through 2026, emphasizing local security and political issues. Other social media platforms and rural Kano areas fall outside the scope for focused investigation.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
Challenges include potential response biases in self-reported data, where participants may minimize sharing fake news due to stigma. Privacy in WhatsApp groups may limit access to diverse samples. Evolving platform features and rapid misinformation trends could affect findings’ longevity. The urban-centric approach restricts broader generalization. These are addressed via mixed methods, ethical protocols, and transparent reporting.
1.8 Definition of Terms
- Fake News: Intentionally or unintentionally fabricated/misleading information presented as factual news.
- WhatsApp Groups: Private multi-user chat groups on WhatsApp for sharing messages, media, and forwards.
- Dissemination: The process of spreading or forwarding fake news via WhatsApp.
- Perceptions: Residents’ attitudes, beliefs, and judgments about fake news on WhatsApp.
- Experiences: Personal encounters involving exposure, sharing, verification, or effects of fake news in Kano City WhatsApp groups.
REFERENCES
Ajijola, B. A. (2025). Fake news dissemination on WhatsApp: A systematic review of evidence (2018–2024). African Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences. https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/AJSBS/article/view/3489
Apuke, O. D., & Omar, B. (2020). Motivations for sharing fake news on social media in Nigeria. Relevant journal publication.
Cheeseman, N., et al. (2020). Social media disruption: Nigeria’s WhatsApp politics. Journal of Democracy, 31, 145–159.
FactCheckHub. (2026). Ministry of Information ignores fight against misinformation in 2026 budget. https://factcheckhub.com/ministry-of-information-ignores-fight-against-misinformation-in-2026-budget
Ndubueze, P. N. (2025). Third-party and fake news policing on WhatsApp groups in Nigeria: An exploratory study. Nigerian Journal of Communication and Social Sciences. https://journals.ncsociety.org.ng/index.php/njcss/article/download/17/16
PRNigeria. (2026). CP Bakori declares zero tolerance for hate speech, fake news in Kano. https://prnigeria.com/2026/02/11/bakori-declares-zero-tolerance
TheCable. (2026). NGO launches WhatsApp chatbot to combat fake news. https://www.thecable.ng/ngo-launches-whatsapp-chatbot-to-combat-fake-news
TVC News. (2025). Kano dismisses security threat rumours, warns against fake news. https://www.tvcnews.tv/kano-dismisses-security-threat-rumours-warns-against-fake-news