Ethnic divisions, particularly between the largest communities, the Dinka and Nuer, fuelled the brutal civil war of 2013-18 in which some 400,000 people died.
It comes as the 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, First Vice President Riek Machar -- who are respectively of Dinka and Nuer ethnicity -- is hanging in the balance after Machar's arrest on Wednesday.
But those with access are often “the loudest voices” and their messages spread through communities by more traditional means, helping to poison the atmosphere.
But “social media disinformation and hate speech, which is very intense” is stoking fears.
Videos have 'radicalised people'
Ethnic polarisation had reduced considerably in recent years, said Kwaje, but those videos have once again “radicalised people”.
“There is limited access to good information and free media in South Sudan. It creates a vacuum,“ said Kwaje.
“But then you have actors who want to fan engagement, and a small section who are politically motivated.”
“When we see that level, we know there’s someone on a payroll,“ said Kwaje.
When the civil war broke out in 2013, there was a very clear tribal divide “from day one,“ he said.
“Young people are also aware of the dangers of dividing along tribal lines. There is a lot of messaging about peace.
“But what pushes people to the edge is sharing content showing someone from your tribe being mistreated. Whether that content is factual or not, that immediately radicalises you.”
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