A social media spat between South Africa and Nigeria has spilled over into the realm of ride-hailing apps, forcing Bolt to take decisive action. On Thursday, August 22nd, the company restricted cross-country ride requests between the two nations in response to a wave of prank bookings.
The online feud appears to have stemmed from the controversy surrounding Chidimma Onwe Adetshina, a Nigerian-South African model who withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant amidst allegations of xenophobia. This, coupled with the recent withdrawal of South Africa’s invitation to the Puebla International Literature Festival 2024, ignited tensions across social media platforms, particularly X.
The situation escalated when South African Bolt users began requesting rides in Nigerian cities with the sole intention of cancelling them upon driver arrival. This prank, meant to disrupt and potentially inconvenience Nigerian drivers, sparked outrage on social media. Screenshots and videos on X captured the extent of the prank, revealing mocking commentary targeting drivers who fell victim to the scheme.
In retaliation, Nigerian users initiated a similar prank, booking rides with South African Bolt and Uber drivers. The online battle quickly descended into a “Bolt for Bolt” exchange, with users on both sides vowing to outdo the other.
Faced with this escalating situation, Bolt prioritized the safety and integrity of its platform. They swiftly implemented measures to curb the fraudulent bookings by restricting inter-country ride Bolt requests between Nigeria and South Africa. Additionally, they confirmed that those responsible for the fake bookings had been blocked from the Bolt app.
This incident raises concerns about the effectiveness of safety measures employed by ride-hailing companies in preventing fraudulent bookings. While Bolt has taken action, the underlying tensions between the two nations remain unresolved. Whether this digital skirmish translates into real-world consequences remains to be seen.
The online battle has sparked a range of reactions on social media. Some users condemned the prank as petty and insensitive to the livelihoods of drivers. Others expressed frustration with the ongoing animosity between the two countries. The incident also highlighted concerns about the potential for social media spats to disrupt essential services.