الصعود الرقمي في إفريقيا وقوة تأثير وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي

Abstract EN

Internet growth in Africa is faster than anywhere else, with a growing influence of social media which transforming political engagement in the continent, as well as economic and social opportunities.

Despite the noticeable rise in internet usage in Africa and the high penetration rates of mobile phone use, there are many obstacles that limit the digital capacity in the continent, such as: weak infrastructure, computer literacy, and poverty with the high costs of using the Internet.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest growing region in the use of mobile phones in recent years, which has had a direct impact on the spread of various social platforms, the most important of which is the Facebook that is the number one social application in Africa, although the subscriber growth slows due to the challenges of affordability by young people.

A large majority in sub-Saharan Africa considers that the increased use of the Internet has had a good impact on education, economics, politics, and personal relationships, but the rapid growth in Internet access has also carried a host of problems, such as fake news, political targeting, and financial fraud.

Social Networks imposes itself as a quick and real source of news, as well as the methods of participation and influence it provides to individuals, often making it the main source of information for traditional media.

Although most people of sub-Saharan Africans are gravitating toward social activities over political, religious or commercial ones, social media are no longer just views and opinions shared across the Internet, technology has also helped to organize protests that go beyond the digital sphere, as happened with the campaign to displace Robert Mugabe from Power in Zimbabwe, and the movement to remove Jacob Zuma from the presidency of South Africa.

Political leaders on the continent often view social media as a threat because they can provide the public with greater access to information.

It also has the ability to mobilize people, challenge the leadership, and many African governments have resisted digital freedom, and sought to impose technical and legal restrictions, and it may come up to a complete or partial closure of the Internet, and prosecution of activists at times, which prompted a number of international and civil organizations to launch initiatives and recommendations to protect Internet freedom in Africa.