The International Journal of Internet Trolling and Online Participation 1(1)

Editorial for the special issue on Africa and

social media
Jonathan Bishop1
Abstract: This editorial is for the first issue of the International
Journal of Internet Trolling and Online Participation, which is
envisaged for each issue will be a special issue on a relevant and
current topic. This special issue, on Africa and Social Media has
come together from a number of specialist authors responses
to calls for participation, reflecting issues in Africa as they have
been affected by the mass availability of social networking
technologies.
Keywords: Africa, social media, citizen journalism, Arab Spring

Introduction
For many people, Africa is associated with imagery of destitution put out
by charities to foster a sense of guilt in those they want to part with their
money. But this is not the Africa of today. Africa has some of the fastest
growing economies in the world, and all countries regardless of economic
might feel its problems, such as corruption and terrorism. This special issue
therefore seeks to provide a view of how social media has changed and
shaped the Africa that exists today.

Impact of Arab Spring on Terrorism

It is easy to see the effect the Arab Spring in Africa has had on the way
politics and policy exists in the digital age. The killing of British military
officer Lee Rigby by a British citizen and the beheading of an American
journalist, James Foley, in a video presenting the killer as British, both show
that Jihadist terrorists have become social media savvy, as recordings of
both of these have been put online and shared widely. The mass media is
still influential however. It was mass media coverage of the genocide and
holocaust of Arab and other groups in Gaza that brought the actions of
Zionist terrorism to the forefront even though it had been visible on
social media platforms like YouTube for many years. It is therefore clear to

Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems, Wales

see that the Arab Spring in Africa and elsewhere has effects that will last
longer that the revolutions that as predicted were blogged, but televised also.

Journalism in Africa
Journalists are not always flavour of the month, because their special role in
society is to scrutinise the powers that be and hold to account those who
misuse their power, such as out of prejudice and causing poverty. The abuse
of power by politicians and other public figures is not a problem Africa has
also, as even in the United Kingdom, legislation such as the Protection from
Harassment Act 1997 and the Defamation Acts are regularly used to gag
journalists and other free speakers from publishing articles relating to those
who have power and abuse it. That is why the papers in this special issue on
freedom of expression and citizen journalism are so relevant for the digital
age we are in.

Transforming Politics and Policy in the Digital Age

The papers in this special issue draw out many important findings for how
the nature of politics and policy has changed in the digital age. The various
technologies are explored, including the role wikis, blogs and social
networking services play, and how these have changed the way politics is
done since the Arab Spring.