IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH (IJSSMR )

E-ISSN 2545-5303
P-ISSN 2695-2203
VOL. 10 NO. 11 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijssmr.v10.no11.2024.pg.367.391

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The Impact of Social Media on Development, Democracy and Anti- Democratic Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bimbo OGUNBANJO, PhD

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Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world, social media has become a major component of discussions on the political economics of development; yet, it is challenging to assess the influence. Social media is employed, depending on the nation, for civic involvement, anti- corruption efforts, news story following, and maintaining political engagement in the face of disillusionment with national leaders. The incredible growth of internet and mobile phone use across Africa and most of the developing world over the last ten years has accelerated this process. In order to demonstrate how an area with some of the least developed socioeconomic infrastructure in the world has embraced and used social media for democratic and economic growth, this paper concentrates its research exclusively on the situation in sub-Saharan Africa. Although there are many disagreements and interpretations on the definition and usage of the term "development," in this context it refers to the enhancement of the overall well-being of individuals within a given community. In this sense, development includes micro concerns like people's readily available access to money, healthcare information, and other everyday necessities, as well as macro statistics like GDP and GDP per capita. The term "social media" can also refer to interactive systems that go beyond well-known websites like Facebook and Twitter. This paper examines two social media platforms, MPesa and Ushahidi, that are increasingly integrated into the financial and electoral processes. Both were created in Kenya, yet despite this, they have gained popularity both in Africa and beyond. The mapping of Kibera, a sizable slum in Kenya, raised awareness of its issues and prompted national attention, as is shown in another section of the paper. Next, focus is on Nigeria, where youth engagement in the nation's political processes has increased as a result of social media-promoted demonstrations in 2

keywords:

Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Media, Social Media, Democracy, Development

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