Be very careful on WhatsApp
A false story was shared in a WhatsApp group which resulted in the death of an innocent man. If you're an admin of a WhatsApp group, you may want to read this.
Social media is one of the most effective and powerful means of communication. When used correctly, it can implement change and do good.
According to The South African, group admins on WhatsApp can face legal charges if offensive content is shared and circulated.
This conversation was sparked by an incident that took place in India, which resulted in a group of men assaulting and killing a man who was falsely accused of being a kidnapper.
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The group admin of the WhatsApp group who shared these false reports was charged along with the group of men that wrongfully killed an innocent man.
If we really think about it, admins are not the ones that create the content that is shared in the group. Individuals that make up the group find stories on other social media platforms and share them in the group.
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It is up to admins of these groups to make it clear that offensive content will be removed by the group and should not be allowed. These groups could consider adding community guidelines which could be used to govern information posted on said groups.
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With that being said, should WhatsApp group admins face criminal charges for content shared on these groups?