by PW Perspective Editorial Board

“Information is power. Disinformation is abuse of power.” – Newton Lee

As the 2024 presidential race enters its final months, a new report highlights how some social media platforms are intentionally providing Black readers with false information about the election. Back in June, Onyx Impact, a nonprofit organization which focuses on combating the harmful disinformation ecosystems which targets Black audiences, released a report titled “The Black Online Disinformation Landscape.”

In the report, it listed several online influencers, podcasts, and digital companies who attempt to feed more than 40 million Black Americans with fake stories. Onyx’s team spent four months identifying approximately 2500 online accounts which were spreading misinformation. They also held seven national focus groups to study how this information was impacting readers. Among those identified in the report were:

• Candace Owens
• The Breakfast Club
• Joe Budden Podcast
• Fresh and Fit Podcast
• Rizza Islam, a health skeptic
• The Shade Room
• Foundational Black Americans
• Africa Stream, although they released a statement that their focus was to “present an authentically African perspective.”

Esosa Osa, the founder of Onyx Impact, spoke with NBC News about how these tactics could be an issue, many Black audiences are not letting it distract them.

“Black voters are likely less susceptible to many disinformation narratives given their deserved higher levels of skepticism in institutions and government overall,” said Osa to NBC News. “But just like other communities, when disinformation is targeted and comes from messengers with standing, it can be incredibly effective and dangerous.”

One only needs to look back at the 2016 presidential election to see how easy misinformation can reach the populous. As long as there is an opportunity to profit, bad actors and extremists will continue to use these platforms to distract and divide Black audiences.