Democracy in Africa: digital voting technology and social media can be a force for good – and bad
- By Maxwell Maseko
Today social media platforms like X, WhatsApp and Facebook are regularly used for debate, and to mobilise citizens and organise protests.
Can African countries use digital technology to strengthen democracy?
It’s a bumper year for elections on the continent: by the end of 2024, 20 countries ought to have gone to the polls to vote in national elections. A handful of others are also scheduled to conduct local-level elections. As is the case elsewhere in the world, digital technologies have come to play a key role in African elections and political life more broadly – sometimes, but not always, in positive ways.
In recent years, more people in African countries have been able to access the internet than ever before. This growth has been driven by improved telecommunication infrastructure and the rising adoption of mobile devices.
At the same time there’s been a worrying democratic decline in some countries and regions, most markedly north Africa.
This is marked by an increase in military regimes, a rise in violent conflicts and growing public dissatisfaction with political systems.
Read more on the article as it appears on The Conversation website.