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The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya
Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1869484034617245696 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Turpin, Marita |
| author_browse | Turpin, Marita |
| author_facet | Turpin, Marita |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107727 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:08:28.745Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107727 The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya Turpin, Marita u16264721@tuks.co.za Masavah, Vincent Mwendwa UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Choice Framework Developing countries Critical thinking Digital literacy Disinformation Fake news Misinformation Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2025. The proliferation of online platforms such as Facebook, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) has facilitated the rapid spread of fake news in recent years, raising significant concerns across various sectors of society. In developing countries, it has incited political and xenophobic violence, impeded vaccine distribution during pandemics, and provoked religious conflicts resulting in fatalities. This phenomenon is attributed to the widespread availability and use of mobile technology, the Internet, and social media, which have exacerbated the prevalence and risk of fake news. Although numerous studies on fake news have been conducted, they predominantly focused on the Global North. This study aims to address the urgent need to mitigate the spread of fake news in developing countries. A potential approach to studying and recommending solutions to this problem is the application of critical thinking to identify fake news. Therefore, this study investigates how can critical thinking be employed to discern fake news in developing countries.A qualitative study was performed that utilised the Choice Framework as the underpinning theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews with individuals and focus groups were conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya. Data were collected from 55 individual participants and 13 focus groups. Participants were selected by means of purposeful and snowball sampling strategies. The data collected were analysed thematically using Atlas.ti and unpacked in terms of the constructs of the Choice Framework. This study found that employing critical thinking to discern fake news decreases the probability of individuals being susceptible to it. However, development is a choice - only individuals who choose to apply critical thinking to identify fake news will be able to achieve the desired outcome. Critical thinking can assist them to preserve the integrity of their social structures and to lead the life they value. Ultimately, the benefits of development can in this case be better achieved through the application of critical thinking.The practical contribution in this study includes the recommendation that digital and information literacy should be taught at schools, the teaching and application of critical thinking should be encouraged, policies, programmes and laws that curb the spread of fake news should be introduced, and finally a fact-checking mechanism for information verification should be created. The theoretical contribution in this study is the application of the Kleine's Choice framework to understand the use of critical thinking in identifying fake news in the Global South.The study’s limitations include that it was conducted only in Nairobi County, Kenya and that the focus was restricted to the application of critical thinking to identify fake news. Future studies should focus on replicating the study in other regions. In addition, future studies should consider other mechanisms or avenues to identifying fake news. UP Postgraduate Bursary for Masters and Doctoral students Informatics PhD (Information Systems) Unrestricted Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology None 2026-01-30T07:46:36Z 2026-01-30T07:46:36Z 2026-05-28 2025-12-11 Thesis * A2026 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107727 Disclaimer en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Choice Framework Developing countries Critical thinking Digital literacy Disinformation Fake news Misinformation The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title | The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title_full | The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title_short | The use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries : a case study in Nairobi County, Kenya |
| title_sort | use of critical thinking to identify fake news in developing countries a case study in nairobi county kenya |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Choice Framework Developing countries Critical thinking Digital literacy Disinformation Fake news Misinformation |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107727 |