The politics of the internet and social media in Africa: three bases of knowledge for advancing research

Researchers are studying a range of questions relating to the impact of social media in Africa, particularly in light of the rise of fake news, internet and social media shutdowns, and violence against activists posting critical content online. Other researchers, however, argue that some more fundamental issues need to be examined, such as who is using social media and how this influences politics. This research note examines the evolution of research on the politics of internet and social media in Africa and argues that three bases of knowledge must be prioritized in future research. These are the physical character of the internet networks, the meaning of internet and social media access, and the characteristics of users and their engagement or disengagement. These arguments are supported by primary and secondary data collected through field research in Uganda and Tanzania.