The rise of online platforms has amplified both the dissemination of information and the spread of harmful content. In this blog, Christine Magoma Oumar of Kenya, 2024 Hurford Youth Fellow, examines the role that micro-influencers—individuals with smaller followings but strong trust within their communities—can play in fostering safer online environments and inspiring responsible digital citizenship. Across universities in Kenya, student leaders often become micro-influencers, playing a pivotal role in shaping political discourse among their peers. Unfortunately, many of them have been targeted by political actors who offer financial incentives in exchange for spreading narratives aligned with particular political parties or ethnic groups, especially during elections. Oumar suggests that in order to maintain information integrity on online platforms, it is crucial to work with micro-influencers to adopt journalistic standards of transparency and accountability.

Read Christine Magoma Oumar’s blog here.