The coup doesn’t need soldiers anymore: Social media and the new assault on African democracy
In an earlier piece for this column, I wrote about Ananse the trickster who built webs not to trap flies but to acquire stories, and with them, control over what the world came to believe.
The age of coups no longer requires soldiers, as social media and algorithms hold the power to reshape African democracy. For decades, coups were initiated through military action, but now, a simple smartphone, grievance, and a manipulative algorithm are enough to destabilise a nation. In Ethiopia, Facebook's internal documents revealed the company had flagged the country as high-risk years before its civil war erupted, yet failed to prevent hate speech that led to ethnic violence.
Similarly, in Kenya’s 2017 election, Cambridge Analytica, the firm behind microtargeting, admitted to spreading information across the internet, causing lasting damage. The issue is not limited to individual countries; it is a design problem that affects all of Africa, regardless of political allegiance or geography. The algorithm, while neutral, rewards outrage, tribal loyalty, and righteous anger, leading to misinformation and instability.
This approach must change, with a policy focusing on the act itself, not the origin or affiliation of the speaker.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Social media a double-edged sword for young people’s health – GHS gbcghanaonline.com
