Access to social media and digitized communication has been a double-edged sword in Africa. Initially, people were able to share ideas, information, and messages electronically which enabled a vibrant civil society and a shift in politics on the continent. Today, the impact of social media on politics is more nuanced. On the positive side, widespread access to social media platforms has fostered civic participation, political mobilization, and improved coordination among citizens. At the same time, social media has fueled growing dissatisfaction and distrust towards democratic institutions through misinformation and disinformation. This has, in turn, exacerbated political instability particularly in fragile contexts.
