How xenophobia went viral in South Africa
The Listening PostThe online campaign stoking South Africa’s latest xenophobic backlash. South Africa is experiencing an ugly wave of xenophobia driven by a coordinated digital campaign by anti-migrant. . .
The Listening PostThe online campaign stoking South Africa’s latest xenophobic backlash. South Africa is experiencing an ugly wave of xenophobia driven by a coordinated digital campaign by anti-migrant groups. As prejudiced rhetoric seeps into mainstream news coverage, a growing number of South African journalists are trying to figure out who’s really pulling the strings behind the movement. Contributors:Qaanitah Hunter – Host, The DebriefAimee-Noel Mbiyozo – Senior research consultant, Institute for Security StudiesHaru Mutasa – Correspondent, Al Jazeera EnglishHerman Wasserman – Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch UniversityOn our radarIn Venezuela, a natural disaster has exposed the state’s failures and officials have imposed tight controls on journalists trying to cover the story. Tariq Nafi looks at the government’s heavy-handed methods to control the narrative. Governments around the world are trying to solve one of the defining parenting challenges of the digital age: what to do about teenagers and social media. The Listening Post‘s Meenakshi Ravi reports on the politics behind social media bans – whether governments are solving the right problem – and who should take responsibility for keeping young people safe online. Featuring:Preston Byrne – Tech and free speech lawyerDaisy Greenwell – Cofounder, Smartphone Free ChildhoodTama Leaver – Professor of internet studies, Curtin UniversityKate Sim – Director, Children’s Online Safety and Privacy Research ProgramPublished On 5 Jul 2026