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Empowering Digital Space: UNESCO and EU Launch "Social Media 4 Peace" in South Africa

The Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project was officially launched in South Africa in May 2025, marking a major step forward in efforts to strengthen resilience of societies to the spread of harmful content online and promote peace in the digital age. Jointly presented by the European Union Delegation to South Africa and UNESCO, the launching event brought together a broad array of media partners, civil society, regulators, academics, and government representatives – all united in the fight against online hate speech, disinformation, and harmful digital content.

4 June 2025

Supported by the , SM4P promotes human rights-based approach to the governance of the digital space. Its core objectives are;

Countering hate speech and disinformation online while protecting and promoting freedom of expression
Promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL) to enhance users’ critical thinking and engagement with digital platforms and content
Leveraging digital technologies to support peacebuilding

A key outcome of the project is the formation of a national multi-stakeholder coalition, which in South Africa will include the Press Council of South Africa (PC), South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), Research ICT Africa (RIA), and the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC). These partners aim to collaboratively build the country’s capacity to prevent the escalation of harmful online narratives and reinforce societal resilience. Paying special attention to the most vulnerable groups and the marginalized.

All technologies can be used for good or for harm. Social media connects people across borders and cultures, but it can also be misused to spread hate and disinformation.

Søren Hogsbro LarsenPolicy Officer with the European Union Delegation to South Africa

The launch of the Social Media 4 Peace project, also coincided with World Press Freedom Day, making it a fitting occasion for the unveiling of the . The report outlines ongoing efforts and challenges in safeguarding press freedom, a cornerstone of democratic societies and a critical foundation for responsible digital communication.

A major theme of the event was the role of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in building informed, thoughtful, and resilient digital citizens—especially youth. Participants emphasized MIL as a proactive tool for enhancing critical thinking, supporting media’s role in a democratic society, and empowering audiences to engage constructively in online spaces.

The launch also featured the M20 Digital Democracy Dialogue, a policy-focused platform that explored the intersection of media freedom, privacy, and security within local and international legal frameworks. Discussions addressed how South Africa can lead digital governance initiatives under its upcoming G20 presidency.

In their remarks, representatives from the Press Council highlighted the importance of regional instruments, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the Model Law on Access to Information in Africa, which align with the SM4P initiative’s goals of advancing African digital rights and ensuring access to information.

It is very fitting that this project is launched on World Press Freedom Day. Responsible use of social media goes hand in hand with press freedom, freedom of expression, and the promotion of peace.

Søren Hogsbro LarsenPolicy Officer with the European Union Delegation to South Africa

As South Africa reflects on the evolving role of media in society, the Social Media 4 Peace project stands as a timely and collaborative initiative to ensure that digital platforms become tools for dialogue, democracy, and peace—not division.

The Social Media 4 Peace project, which is funded by the European Union, was launched in 2021 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Indonesia and Kenya. In 2025, the project expanded to South Africa, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq.