THE recent misinformation involving Africa Independent Television (AIT), a Nigerian TV station, highlights the need for stronger media literacy, as false information often continues to spread across social media long after it has been debunked.
On July 7, 2026, AIT shared a 2024 video of President Bola Tinubu reciting Nigeria’s former national anthem during a Federal Executive Council meeting, but misleadingly presented it as current footage from July 7, 2026. The post quickly went viral, prompting widespread reactions and discussions among media personalities, social media users, and the general public.
Nigeria officially reverted to its former national anthem on May 29, 2024, after Tinubu signed a bill restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s official anthem. The anthem had originally been in use from independence in 1960 until 1978, when it was replaced with “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The following day, July 8, 2026, AIT retracted the video and issued a public apology. The station acknowledged that the broadcast resulted from an oversight and said it would strengthen its editorial verification processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Despite AIT’s prompt correction, the false narrative continued to spread. Days after the apology, many social media users were still sharing the misleading video or leaving their original posts uncorrected.
The psychology and profit behind persistent misinformation
Research shows that the continued sharing of false information, even after it has been corrected and debunked, is driven by both psychological and financial factors.
The FactCheckHub reported how the introduction of monetisation features on major social media platforms has amplified the spread of misinformation and hate speech online. Because creators and influencers earn revenue from views, impressions, and engagement, deleting a viral post can mean forfeiting traffic and potential income. As a result, some users keep misleading posts online, prioritising financial gain over factual accuracy.
Another major driver is habitual social media use. Research shows that frequent users often share content automatically in pursuit of likes, comments, and online attention. This focus on social validation and maintaining an active online presence leaves little room for verifying information before posting, making factual accuracy a secondary concern.
Furthermore, even when users are presented with a clear correction, a psychological phenomenon known as the Continued Influence Effect makes misinformation difficult to dispel. Once people encode information in memory, it can continue to shape their thinking even after it has been proven false. As a result, a simple retraction is often insufficient to replace the original narrative, allowing the false claim to persist and continue circulating online.
What social media users should do after a post is debunked
If you discover that a post you shared is false or has been debunked, take immediate steps to prevent it from spreading further.
Delete the post
Deleting the post is the most effective way to stop the spread of misinformation. It prevents new users from seeing or sharing the false content and removes the misleading post from your timeline.
Update the post with clear context
If you prefer to keep the post online for transparency, clearly indicate that it has been debunked. Edit the caption or pin a comment with the correct information. For example: “UPDATE: This post has been debunked. The original video was recorded in 2024, not 2026.” This helps ensure that anyone who comes across the post understands that the original claim is false.
Avoid engaging with the debunked post
Avoid responding to comments on a debunked post with vague or defensive replies. Every comment or reply signals to the platform’s algorithm that the post is still generating engagement, which can increase its visibility and expose more people to the false content.
Verify before you share
Before sharing a report, photo, or video, verify its authenticity. Check whether credible news organisations or trusted fact-checkers have confirmed the claim. If you are unsure, submit the post or link to The FactCheckHub for verification. If you cannot confirm that the information is accurate, do not share it.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
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