Africa’s Social Media Destiny

In today’s digital world, social media platforms are more than communication spaces.

They’ve become modern town squares and powerful tools shaping economies, politics, narratives and culture.

The recent move by the United States (US) to ban TikTok, highlights the growing industrial and technological competition between global powers.

This raises important questions: What is Africa doing to create its own social media platforms, and does it need to compete digitally on the world stage?

To answer this, it is imperative to outline important factors applicable to countries or continents owning and controlling their own social media platforms.

DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY

Owning and operating social media platforms ensures data security and sovereignty.

When a platform is controlled by a foreign country, user data can be accessed and manipulated for political or economic advantage.

With local ownership, continents can enforce stronger regulations to protect user information, correct data publication, privacy and national security.

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION

Tech companies generate billions through advertising, data analytics, and software development.

By building their own platforms, continents can keep these profits within their economies, creating jobs and fostering innovation.
They could develop their own digital industries.

STRONGER NEGOTIATING POWER IN GLOBAL TECH MARKETS

A handful of American and Chinese companies dominate the global tech industry.

If continents such as Africa establish their own social media platforms, they can create a more balanced global digital economy.

This would allow them to negotiate better terms with international tech giants, ensuring fair competition and stronger local industries.

CULTURAL REPRESENTATION AND INFLUENCE

Social media platforms shape narratives, trends, and even national identities, and when they are controlled by foreign entities, local cultures become misrepresented or overlooked.

A continent-specific platform would promote indigenous languages, traditions, and values, ensuring digital spaces reflect local identities rather than foreign ideologies.

Africans are continuously fed self-deprecating news and images aimed at tainting African values, self identity and promoting white supremacy – from starving African children to exaggerated images of informal settlements.

This is a historical fact that has increased since the inception of Western-controlled social media platforms and needs redress.

REDUCING POLITICAL MANIPULATION

Foreign-owned platforms are used to spread propaganda, misinformation, or political influence in other regions.

By owning their own platforms, continents can reduce the risk of external interference in elections, governance, and social movements, ensuring digital landscapes are controlled by credible local institutions.

Since the advent of popular social media applications in the early 2000s, the continuous unlawful attacks by Western troops in areas such as Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the recent invasion of Libya were all excessively reported on Western social media as “important human rights operations” aimed at promoting “democracy” and “world peace”.

This buttresses the point that a specific continental monopoly on social media platforms is a dangerous tool which can be used to manipulate and blind the world, while atrocities and plundering of nations resources are taking place.

America recently withdrew aid to South Africa and expelled South African ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool due to misinformation and a narrative of alleged white genocide and discrimination against white Afrikaners in South Africa.

This misinformation is largely spread on X (Twitter), currently owned by Elon Musk, who is a white South African.

This has the potential of derailing an entire country’s economy and plundering it into chaos and potential civil war.

Imagine waking up and it’s not just political sanctions against your country, it’s Facebook, X, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Instagram not working in your country because Western powers are unhappy with African leaders’ political policies.

Will we go back to communicating via SMS, smoke signals and updates via newspapers?

BASHU AND OTHERS APPS

This is why Namibian and African social media apps such as Bashu, Kwafa, Intercity and others are needed.

They ensure digital sovereignty, data security and reduce political manipulation, as well as ensure digital sufficiency in how Africans communicate and trade.

Bashu, an African social media app, is a micro-blogging platform that connects people and users with similar interests.

It recently became available on IOS worldwide and will be launching on Android soon.

Many people using this platform question whether it’s necessary for Namibia or Africa to own its own social media applications?

The answer is simple, Africa needs to rise to a new ideology of pride and celebration of African products. We must strive for self-sufficiency in as many industries as possible. Social media and technology is the new bread cutting machine, and we need our own space to exist authentically.

Kwafa is a Namibian app which allows individuals and organisations to raise money for the upliftment of Namibians, Africans and anyone facing social challenges and poverty.

Intercity is a local travel app that connects drivers and passengers with common travel interests to share travel costs and make mobility convenient and seamless in the true spirit of ubuntu.

The app has since expanded to South Africa and will soon launch in Botswana.

STOP DIGITAL DEPENDENCY

Are African social media apps necessary? Should each continent develop and control its own social media platform?
The answer is yes!

Africa and continents without local social media applications should have their own apps, for several reasons.

Increasing geopolitical tensions between the US, China, Russia, and other global players highlight the dangers of digital dependency.

It’s imperative that we specifically develop our own social media applications.

By doing so, Africa can protect its economies, cultures, and political stability.

In an era where digital influence is as powerful as military strength, owning social media platforms is no longer an option, it is a necessity.

– Nafimane Halweendo is an admitted legal practitioner of the High Court and Supreme Court of Namibia, He is also a tech entrepreneur and founder of the ‘Bashu’ app, Namibia’s first mobile social media app.

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