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Understanding Mis- and Disinformation in Nepal

BBC Media Action (2025), 10 pp.

"Social media dominates daily internet use, while use of traditional media is declining: overall, 7 in 10 Nepalis use the internet daily, with Facebook and YouTube being the most used platforms (63% daily usage for both). Among those with internet access, 80% are heavy users of social media, i.e., ... they go on social media platforms at least once a day. Only 40% use the internet for purposes beyond social media, such as online search and emails. Internet users are using TV and radio less. Only 24% watch TV daily and 19% listen to the radio daily. Sharing information is an emotionally driven and socially performative behaviour: content is often shared not for its accuracy, but for its emotional impact, shock value, or social appeal. People are motivated by a desire to entertain, impress, provoke, or find hope, making them less likely to question the credibility of what they share. Drawing on qualitative data, we identified segments of the Nepali population who differ by how they share information: • Exaggeration Sharers: This group will often amplify exaggerated claims in order to gain visibility. They will often share contents that may elicit emotional responses, such as crime and violence. When sharing it, they may add their own take on the issue to exaggerate it further. • Show-off Enthusiasts: Similar to Exaggeration Sharers, they choose to share content that makes them look important, ‘wanting to impress others’ and ‘seek praise’. This is particularly true when sharing may reach people they respect. • Controversy Seekers: This group seeks out explicit content such as the commonly highlighted Bhojpuri songs (typically mentioned in Madhesh), as well as celebrity scandals. Contents often shared by this group tend to have a negative tonality, including topics like ethnic and religious scuffles. • Bystanders: This group tends to use social media by watching and listening without interacting or sharing. However, they enjoy novel content (particularly religious and political content) that may become a topic of discussion within their social network. • Naïve Consumers: This group focuses their attention on content that seeks to give hope in the face of challenges such as unemployment and economic difficulties. However, they tend to be less aware of, or concerned with, implications of online sharing and privacy issues, indicating lower digital and media literacy." (Pages 3-4) more

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Fighting Misinformation: A Critical Look at Disinformation in Indonesia

London: BBC Media Action (2025), 10 pp.

"The research reveals that while digital platforms dominate Indonesia’s information environment, TV remains highly popular and more trusted than social media or the internet as a source of information. Trust in international media is notably low, while trust is higher in local outlets. Audience se ... more

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Challenges and choices: Afghan women's media use and preferences amidst restrictions

London: BBC Media Action (2024), 2 pp.

"While most adult Afghans have access to some form of media platform, only around one in three have access to internet, with less than half of mobile users owning a smartphone. Men exhibit higher usage of radio and internet compared to women (52% male vs 43% female for radio and 36% vs 29% for inter ... more

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Women and the media in Afghanistan: How to support female media workers in a challenging landscape

Catharine Buckell, Mahdi Zaki, Shukrana Azizi Suzanne Devai

London: BBC Media Action (2024), 50 pp.

"Women in Afghanistan continue to have less access to information than men, particularly through TV and the internet. At least 33% of women (more in rural areas) rely on family as a key source of information, while men prioritise other information sources. Yet Afghan women’s information needs have ... never been more pronounced – due to restrictions on their activities, many are confined to their homes. Women in Afghanistan with media access rely on this more than ever to keep updated on issues that concern them, and spend more time accessing and using media: "Now women are in the confines of their homes… The virtual space is the only window for us to learn about what is happening." (Female FGD participant, Herat). Two-thirds (65%) of female survey respondents say that the media is “very important” in their daily lives, compared with half (51%) of male respondents. Despite various efforts to cater to female audiences, 67% of female and male respondents feel that Afghan media only “somewhat” or “rarely” meets women’s needs. Reflecting restrictions on media content, respondents complain that domestic media contains too much religious content and not enough entertainment. However, educational content is still allowed, providing women and girls who are denied access to schooling with a vital source of education. Respondents are more satisfied with the balance of content in international media and media run by Afghans in exile, and they are more likely to watch some types of entertainment, such as movies, on international than domestic TV. However, a number of international media outlets are inaccessible from Afghanistan. Journalists inside Afghanistan are banned from working with international TV/radio channels or news sites, and some have been arrested for doing so. 87% of respondents say the presence of women in the media in Afghanistan has decreased since August 2021. Only 41% could name a female presenter or journalist. Almost all of those named by respondents worked in the media before 2021, or currently work from outside Afghanistan. Audience members support women featuring in news and educational programmes but are less supportive of them featuring in comedy and sports content. Over half (54%) of the general survey respondents say they would support a female relative to work as a journalist. A further 12% would support a female relative under certain conditions, including wearing the hijab and travelling with a mahram (women cannot leave their home without a male chaperone)." (Executive summary, page 6) more

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Using mass media to increase audiences’ ability to keep safe from explosive ordnance in Afghanistan

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 2 pp.

"BBC Media Action has been using mass media to help audiences recognise risks and keep safe from explosive ordnance (EO), which is widespread across Afghanistan following years of conflict. We conducted a panel study in 10 most affected provinces to evaluate the impact of our programme. We found tha ... more

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How Audience Research Informed the Development of Niambie Project in Tanzania: A Look at Gender Dynamics and its Decision Making

Jasmine Shio, Catherine Buckell, Kaushiki Ghose

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 7 pp.

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A survey of media consumption in Afghanistan

Mahdi Zaki, Zaher Modaqeq, Shahira Torab, Fiona Howie, Manju Gautham, Ibrahim Jabarkhail

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 34 pp.

"This report summarizes research that aimed to better understand Afghans' access to and preference for different media content and platforms, their trust in media, how people use and share mis- and disinformation and ways to counter these." (Publisher description)

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Disaster Risk Communication: What Do People in Nepal Need to Prepare Better for Disasters?

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 6 pp.

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What Limits Tanzanian Women’s Participation in Political Leadership? An Investigation of Discriminatory Social Norms

Jasmine Shio, Kaushiki Ghose

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 9 pp.

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Women in Ukraine: What Key Issues Are They Facing?

Sally Gowland, Katherine Michie

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 10 pp.

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Solomon Islands: Understanding Audience Needs, Values, and the Role of Media and Communication

Sao Vichheka, Keo Rancha, Sally Gowland et al.

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 12 pp.

"The vast majority (87%) of survey respondents said they receive information indirectly or through word of mouth. This is higher than respondents’ reported use of any formal media platforms such as radio, internet, newspapers, or TV. This trend is also evident in which sources people rely on for i ... more

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Women in Ukraine: How Are They Using Media Since the Full Scale Invasion?

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 12 pp.

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Women in Ukraine: How Have Gender Roles and Attitudes Changed?

Sally Gowland

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 11 pp.

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Media Usage in Nepal 2022

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 4 pp.

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How Radio Can Build a More Supportive Environment for Girls’ Education, Learning, and Empowerment

Karen O´Connor, Sophie Stelle, Mohamed Kpaka et al.

London: BBC Media Action (2023), 15 pp.

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Digital Media for Young People in Myanmar: Breaking Taboo and Discussing Sexual and Reproductive Health

London: BBC Media Action (2022), 2 pp.

"BBC Media Action’s innovative sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) project - Ma Shet Ne (Don’t be shy!) – was designed to support young people living in Yangon to access quality information and realise their rights. Research findings show that young people are highly engaged with the ... more

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Climate Change: New Evidence on How Media Can Engage Youth to Take Action

BBC Media Action (2022), 12 pp.

"In sum, this evaluation provides evidence that the Kembali ke Hutan (Return to the forest) project through drama, discussion show, and social media output can engage young Indonesians in topics that they previously were not interested in by breaking down the issues of deforestation in climate chang ... more

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The Advertising Industry in Sierra Leone: A Critical and Comprehensive Analysis

Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai

BBC Media Action; PRIMED (2022), 8 pp.

"The commercial advertising industry in Sierra Leone is in a parlous state – unstructured, uncoordinated and unregulated. The shambolic nature of the industry stems from three major shortcomings – a lack of policy regulation, a limited market, and poor professional practices. Existing policy whi ... more

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Government and Industry-Led Initiatives to Support the Development of the Media Market: Case for Kenya

Haron Mwangi

BBC Media Action; PRIMED (2022), 15 pp.

"This paper explores the instances and circumstances under which the media community in Kenya has closely worked with the government to introduce media reforms though new legislation and related policies. It focuses on changes that have been enacted over the last decade and, in particular, those aim ... more

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Private Sector Investment and Public Sector Support for the Media in Sierra Leone: A Binding Constraints Analysis

Francis Sowa

BBC Media Action; PRIMED (2022), 7 pp.

"This Binding Constraints Analysis is part of the process of building a business case for private sector investment and public sector support for the media in Sierra Leone. Informed by the findings of the State of the Media report, this analysis is aimed at presenting an overview of the risks, chall ... more