Gender and Social Media in Southern Africa: How Far Have We Come?

This paper provides a broad overview of gender and social media. It tries to demystify this new phenomenon that has improved the way we communicate across the continent. It identifies some of the challenges that continue to hinder marginalised and minority groups from actively participating in the creation/generation of content, processing and distribution of information and knowledge. The paper attempts to highlight how Southern Africa is gradually joining the world to embrace “communication societiesÀ. It looks at how communication has increasingly linked to the personal and the emotional and argues that social media is slowly shifting power from government, the media, opinion leaders and other traditional agenda setters to individuals and communities. Lastly, it assesses the intersection between gender and ICTs and how marginalised and minority groups will remain powerless as long as issues of availability, affordability, accessibility, appropriateness and appropriation of ICTs remain unaddressed. The paper provides a basis for discussion and encourages future research into the impact of social media in the development Southern Africa.

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