Social media and politics in Africa : democracy, censorship and security

The smartphone and social media have transformed Africa, allowing people across the continent to share ideas, organise, and participate in politics like never before. While both activists and governments alike have turned to social media as a new form of political mobilization, some African states have increasingly sought to clamp down on the technology, introducing restrictive laws or shutting down networks altogether. Drawing on over a dozen new empirical case studies 2013 from Kenya to Somalia, South Africa to Tanzania 2013 this collection explores how rapidly growing social media use is reshaping political engagement in Africa. But while social media has often been hailed as a liberating tool, the book demonstrates how it has often served to reinforce existing power dynamics, rather than challenge them. Featuring experts from a range of disciplines from across the continent, this collection is the first comprehensive overview of social media and politics in Africa. By examining the historical, political, and social context in which these media platforms are used, the book reveals the profound effects of cyber-activism, cyber-crime, state policing and surveillance on political participation." The smartphone and social media have transformed Africa, allowing people across the continent to share ideas, organise, and participate in politics like never before. While both activists and governments alike have turned to social media as a new form of political mobilization, some African states have increasingly sought to clamp down on the technology, introducing restrictive laws or shutting down networks altogether. Drawing on over a dozen new empirical case studies--from Kenya to Somalia, South Africa to Tanzania--this collection explores how rapidly growing social media use is reshaping politial engagemetn in Africa. But while social media has often been hailed as a liberating tool, the book demonstrates how it has often served to reinforce existing power dynamics, rather than challenge them. Featuring experts from a range of disciplines from across the continent, this collection is the first comprehensive overview of social media and politics in Africa. By examining the historical, political, and social context in which these media platforms are used, the book reveals the profound effects of cyber-activism, cyber-crime, state policing and surveillance on political participation--back cover. The smartphone and social media have transformed Africa, allowing people across the continent to share ideas, organise, and participate in politics like never before. While both activists and governments alike have turned to social media as a new form of political mobilization, some African states have increasingly sought to clamp down on the technology, introducing restrictive laws or shutting down networks altogether. Drawing on over a dozen new empirical case studies--from Kenya to Somalia, South Africa to Tanzania--this collection explores how rapidly growing social media use is reshaping political engagement in Africa. But while social media has often been hailed as a liberating tool, the book demonstrates how it has often served to reinforce existing power dynamics, rather than challenge them. Featuring experts from a range of disciplines from across the continent, this collection is the first comprehensive overview of social media and politics in Africa. By examining the historical, political, and social context in which these media platforms are used, the book reveals the profound effects of cyber-activism, cyber-crime, state policing and surveillance on political participation--back cover The smartphone and social media have transformed Africa, allowing people across the continent to share ideas, organise, and participate in politics like never before. While both activists and governments alike have turned to social media as a new form of political mobilization, some African states have increasingly sought to clamp down on the technology, introducing restrictive laws or shutting down networks altogether.0Drawing on over a dozen new empirical case studies - from Kenya to Somalia, South Africa to Tanzania - this collection explores how rapidly growing social media use is reshaping political engagement in Africa. But while social media has often been hailed as a liberating tool, the book demonstrates how it has often served to reinforce existing power dynamics, rather than challenge them.0Featuring experts from a range of disciplines from across the continent, this collection is the first comprehensive overview of social media and politics in Africa. By examining the historical, political, and social context in which these media platforms are used, the book reveals the profound effects of cyber-activism, cyber-crime, state policing and surveillance on political participation Front Cover; Praise; Half Title; About the Editor; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; List of illustrations; List of contributors; Acknowledgements; 1: Mapping the study of politics and social media use in Africa; Social media in Africa: disparities in use; Researching social media in Africa; Democracy and social media; Security, surveillance and social media; Note; References; 2: '"Igu sawir" gone too far?' Social media and state reconstruction in Somalia; Introduction; Social media scholarship and Somalia; Conflict and communications technology in Somalia; The securitisation of media 6: Between excitement and scepticism: the role of WhatsApp in Sierra Leone's 2018 electionsIntroduction; Researching social media in Sierra Leone; Elections and social media use; Political parties and campaigning on social media; Party supporters on social media; Activism and education; Fake news and wariness of social media; Donor interest and engagement; Conclusion; Notes; References; 7: Chaos and comedy: social media, activism and democracy in Senegal; Introduction; Chapter layout; Social media and the election: introducing Africtivistes and Papa Ismaila Dieng The state, social media and 'Somalia rising' (again)Conclusion; Notes; References; 3: 'We are not just voters, we are citizens': social media, the #ThisFlag campaign and insurgent citizenship in Zimbabwe; Introduction; Social media and politics: theoretical reflections; Methodology; The emergence of the #ThisFlag campaign; 'Logging citizens back on to politics':11 #ThisFlag protest actions; #ThisFlag campaign and the emergent digital spaces of contention; Between possibility and constraint: digital media and Zimbabwean politics; Conclusion; Notes; References 4: Social media and protest movements in South Africa: #FeesMustFall and #ZumaMustFallIntroduction; The South African context; Methodology; Fees Must Fall: #FMF and networked collective action; #ZumaMustFall protest campaign; Conclusion; Notes; References; 5: Enemy collaborators: social imaginaries, global frictions and a gay rights music video in Kenya; Introduction; Social imaginaries and global frictions; Cultural producers and their social imaginaries; Enemy collaborators; Conclusion; Note; References Campaign publicity: posters, billboards, and mockery#TuVotesAvecQuoi: talking back to the state; The elections: chaos, comedy, social media activists taking charge; Conclusion; References; 8: Social media and elections in Nigeria: digital influence on election observation, campaigns and administration; Introduction; A brief review of elections in Nigeria; The social media landscape in Nigeria; Political effects of social media; Use of social media in Nigerian elections; Conclusion; Notes; References Demonstrates how social media is transforming political engagement in Africa using unique case studies from across the region.