Weaponising Intimacy: A Systematic Review of Vernacular Misinformation and Digital Media Fluency in Global South Closed Networks

Abstract

The migration of digital misinformation from open, algorithmic platforms to encrypted messaging applications presents a critical challenge. This is particularly true in the Global South, where encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp represent the primary means of internet connectivity. However, current scholarship on media has a pronounced Western slant, with much emphasis on algorithmic content moderation and reactive fact-checking. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate the empirical studies to explore the unique architecture of closed networks that supports the spread of misinformation (defined here as false information shared without malicious intent), and assess the effectiveness of proactive digital media fluency interventions in the Global South. Data were collected from peer-reviewed articles and institutional reports on the media ecosystems in Latin America, Africa and Asia, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Through thematic synthesis, it is uncovered that misinformation in dark social is more likely to be driven by ‘civic duty’ and homophily than by malicious bot amplification. Moreover, automated fact-checking does not perform well in a vernacular- and location-dependent manner, creating substantial time lags for institutional verifiers. The review demonstrates that proactive digital media fluency interventions show promise relative to traditional technical verification training. The study concludes that addressing dark social misinformation requires adapting Northern frameworks and urgently integrating contextualised, proactive media fluency competencies into the education system.