The recent warning issued by the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) about fraudulent housing scams on TikTok and Facebook highlights a growing and dangerous problem facing Guyana. Fake accounts, social media influencers, and online propagandists are increasingly using platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and exploit vulnerable citizens for personal and political gain.
The ministry’s warning made it clear that scammers have been contacting citizens via unofficial channels, persuading them to pay for house lots and housing allocations. Alarmingly, some of these schemes have reportedly involved young people and minors, raising serious concerns about the influence social media now has over children and teenagers in Guyana. No responsible society should allow children to become targets of manipulation, misinformation, or online fraud simply because social media platforms operate without proper accountability.
In recent years, social media platforms in Guyana have increasingly become spaces dominated by a small group of so-called influencers who do not care who they harm. While freedom of expression is a fundamental aspect of democracy, it is concerning that some individuals use these platforms to promote and amplify offensive, obnoxious, or defamatory remarks about national figures, including elected officials and public servants. Constructive criticism is healthy in any democratic society, but unchecked misinformation, fake news, and baseless accusations threaten to undermine public trust and national unity.
However, some public figures deliberately use TikTok primarily to promote themselves rather than the organisations they represent, aiming to generate positive publicity and counter negative comments, often to the detriment of the sectors they serve.
Some well-known personalities deliberately use TikTok to promote themselves to satisfy personal ambitions, please bosses and employers, and advance their views, not realising that, apart from Facebook, TikTok’s audience is mainly aged 12 to 16 and is not yet ready to engage with or understand personal promotion and advertising, including national politics. Children aged 12 to 16 must be protected from these publicity-seeking personalities and their influencers.
There is also growing concern about fake accounts, duplicate profiles, and anonymous users across all social media platforms in Guyana, particularly on TikTok and Instagram. These users allegedly create multiple identities to influence public opinion, secure advertising and promotional deals for companies and institutions, and artificially inflate their platforms’ user figures. Unfortunately, some influencers deceive high-profile individuals into believing they have a large audience when they do not. Some of these high-profile individuals are obsessed with self-promotion. They are unnecessarily wasting their companies’ and institutions’ funds, and, unfortunately, the public figures are slow to realise they are allegedly being taken for a ride by these so-called influencers.
Across Guyana, many citizens are increasingly recognising that not everything shared online is true or reflects the voice of the Guyanese people. A small but loud group of influencers often dominates social media discussions, presenting rumours, fabricated stories, and politically motivated narratives as facts. These individuals frequently seek attention, online popularity, financial gain, or political favour by spreading sensational content that provokes outrage and division rather than promoting national development or responsible debate.
While freedom of expression remains a fundamental democratic right, there is a clear distinction between constructive criticism and the deliberate spread of falsehoods. Increasingly, defamatory attacks on elected officials, public servants, business leaders, and national figures are being encouraged and amplified online, without evidence or accountability. Such behaviour damages public trust, weakens social cohesion, and creates unnecessary hostility within society.
It is increasingly clear that some influencers use TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook primarily for self-promotion and political influence. Many seek to position themselves as representatives of the people while spreading misleading narratives that do not reflect the views of the wider Guyanese population. This has created an environment in which fake news circulates daily and is sometimes accepted as truth without proper verification.
The Government of Guyana and relevant authorities may therefore need to consider stronger safeguards to protect young people from harmful online influence. Many countries around the world are now debating restrictions and age-based protections for children on social media platforms. Similar discussions in Guyana would not be unreasonable, particularly as online scams and misinformation campaigns increasingly target vulnerable users.
Citizens also have a responsibility to verify information before believing or sharing it. Official matters involving housing, government programmes, or financial transactions should be confirmed only through verified government channels. The public should remain cautious of anyone requesting payments via social media apps, private messaging platforms, or unofficial accounts.
Guyana is undergoing rapid transformation and development, and national progress must not be undermined by a culture of misinformation, online hostility, and fabricated political propaganda. Social media should be used as a tool for education, communication, and national advancement—not as a weapon to deceive citizens, damage reputations, or create division for personal gain.
The Housing Ministry’s latest warning serves as an important reminder that vigilance, responsibility, and truth are now more important than ever in Guyana’s digital age.