Why are these Twitter accounts blocking Sunday Times en masse?

The Sunday Times seems to have gotten on social media users’ bad side, as scores have been blocking the paper’s Twitter page.

This is according to a trail of tweets that began on Sunday, but the reason for the mass exodus still remains unclear.

Many Twitter users, including Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama, who said people were tired of fake news, have jumped on the bandwagon and blocked the paper on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Mngxitama/status/1008433117290430464

The campaign to block the paper stems from Twitter users’ apparent belief that the paper is saturated with racist, anti-black reporting.

The #BlockSundayTimes hashtag appears to be an attempt to create a kind of solidarity among certain social media users against the Sunday paper.

A few have warned media houses to be wary, accusing the Sunday Times of negative reports involving black people. The mass resistance from Twitter users appears to also be linked to the public protector.

The Sunday Times has called Public Protector Advocate Mkhwebane a "Mampara of the Week".

For her Report against Helen Zille's colonialism tweets.#BlockedSundayTimes pic.twitter.com/7L0FrC97SS

— Izwe Lethu (@LandNoli) June 18, 2018

The exact reason for the mass exodus remains a mystery.

News are not news anymore. All they want to do is shove their opinions down our throats. "Educate" us like we have no brains. #blockSundaytimes

— barbra101 (@guevara28_che) June 18, 2018

I don't even know what they did but hey.. black twitter asked nicely, some hashtags I actually partake in #BlockSundayTimes pic.twitter.com/PfadfOqxOz

— Zamantungwa Khumalo 👑 🌸 (@Lwalwa23) June 17, 2018

#BlockSundayTimes: Twitter roasts newspaper for spreading fake news https://t.co/WvWidqGCtC via @Africa News 24-7

— Africa News Global (@AfricaNewsG) June 18, 2018

This is why we have to #BlockSundayTimes https://t.co/ZqlNB4j1ZD

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The sky is blue for me, Elon

— Bush Sopolitiki (@politiki_101) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/WyneAccessories/status/1008449291776675840

Let's do it for the culture! #BlockSundayTimes pic.twitter.com/jFCYcyY2x4

— BLF 2019 (@blf2019) June 17, 2018

This was my tweet 4 days ago. Mainstream media has been taking us for a ride for years. Its enough!!! #BlockSundayTimes https://t.co/r1cWGCEy6c

— Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) June 18, 2018

Got a Free Copy will burn it 😂😂😂😂#BlockSundayTimes pic.twitter.com/YucX2Qh8ez

— Sizwe (@mehlulisizwe) June 18, 2018

Someone please explain why are we doing this 🤔#FOMO ereng mo ngwaneng so I had to 🙆‍♀️
#blocksundaytimes pic.twitter.com/PnRZbhj9hq

— Tshwarelo (@TS_Relow) June 17, 2018

Hello everyone. We are blocking racist Sunday Times. If you have not yet done so, you can do it now. #BlockSundayTimes. Kindly retweet this message till it hits the TimeLine of all black people. If you are on Facebook, do it too. #BlackPower

— Sibusiso Radebe (@MKCadre) June 18, 2018