While the Internet is an avenue for civic engagement, it can also be a vehicle for spreading misinformation, hate, threats and scams that harm civil society. This is especially important during political elections, which are periods of political uncertainty that also often see an increase in false, misleading, and harmful content online.

To support Internet users in Zimbabwe during the upcoming elections, Localization Lab partnered with Digital Society of Africa, Community Podium, Media Institute of Southern Africa, and Matobo Youth Development Initiative to create resources that help more people spot, call out, and protect their communities from fallacious content online.

Our Zimbabwe campaign on Giphy shares tips about ways to recognize and respond to misinformation and harmful content online. For more tips, you can follow us and our partners Digital Society of Africa, Community Podium, Media Institute of Southern Africa and Matobo Youth Development Initiative on social media for in-depth tips about how to do reverse images searches, clues to spot misinformation, and ways to do your own fact checking–all from your phone!

Having tools to stay safe online is so important because fallacious content can influence people to share personal information that they might not otherwise. This makes people more vulnerable to theft, just as it weakens everyone’s digital and information security.

For quick digital security tips, check out our guides in English, ChiShona, Ndebele and Kalanga below so you can strengthen your safety online!