Is social media weakening Africa’s democracy?
- By Blessmore Nhikiti
There is a rising pattern in African elections, where losing candidates use social networks to discredit election results without providing substantial evidence
The political tradition has always been to campaign for votes through a combination of nationwide rallies, media coverage and papering the streets with posters and banners. These tactics however are well regulated and media organisations, municipalities and independent electoral agencies are able to monitor messaging and even legislate to remove bad actors who mislead and misinform their constituencies. Losers were constrained to these channels to interact with their supporters which meant limited opportunity to discredit results and spread misinformation post elections.
Enter social media
With the advent of social media however, there is a rising pattern in African elections, where losing candidates use social networks to discredit election results without providing substantial evidence of purported fraud. Politicians and political parties are increasingly connecting with their supporters through WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter) to influence public discourse.
- Read more on the article as it appears on the Mail and Guardian's website.