Fake news about politicians like Paul Biya honestly messes things up a lot. When I first saw the viral video saying he was overthrown, even I was confused for a minute—and I'm usually pretty skeptical. All it takes is one fake story blowing up on social media, and suddenly people are panicking or arguing for no reason. In Cameroon's case, this kind of stuff makes people trust the government even less, 'cause they're not sure who to believe anymore.

Plus, it distracts everyone from the real issues, like the Anglophone conflict or election drama, and gives the government an excuse to crack down on legit activists or journalists by blaming 'destabilizing rumors.' My uncle in Cameroon said it's gotten so hard to separate real news from random clickbait, especially on WhatsApp groups.

I've seen school friends sharing fake stories about other countries too—it seems like nobody is safe from fake news these days. It just divides people, spreads fear, and keeps everyone arguing about made-up stuff instead of things that could actually change their lives. Double-check before you believe!