Web 2.0 and Beyond Social Networking Trends in Africa Dr. Tarek Cheniti The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

What is special about the social web? -All “middlemen” are gone: new ways of creating and sharing content on a very large scale -Connect with an audience more frequently, in real-time, and in person. -A new paradigm for doing business, reforming government, and strengthening civil society. The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Why look at social media in Africa? -110 million Internet users, 10.9% penetration rate -Numerous African web and mobile applications have appeared in recent years -Uptake and use of ICTs among fastest in the world; e.g. Africa lead global shift from fixed to mobile telephony -Several success stories in using ICTs for positive social change (e.g. village phone operators in Uganda; optimal grain market information via SMS in Niger; e-Care initiative in Ghana, etc.) Opportunities for better governance and more innovation The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

East African Tube NaijaBorn Asanja Africa Meets Africa LinkedAfrica The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ivorian 2010/11 election crisis The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -An initiative between Internet Sans Frontières and NGO Akendewa -Used Ushahidi SMS/Web platform as a tool for “citizen reporting” to crow-source and disseminate information on the electoral process and the crisis which followed -This novel form of electoral monitoring was a great catalyst for civic engagement despite the context of violence Wonzomai

Tunisia’s (Jasmine? Facebook? Twitter?) Revolution The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Social networking during the revolution - Blackout in official media: people shared information on facebook, twitter, youtube, dailymotion, and mobile phones instead -Photos, videos and reports from the field which were shared via SMS and on the web mobilized the public -Prominent dissident blogger ‘disappeared’; later revealed his position in the ministry of interior on Foursquare -Sporadic protests turned into a general rebellion The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TN-Labs -Real-time information about events circumvented censorship and encouraged all users (not just activists) to spread information -Inaccurate data identified and dismissed by community members -Possibility to ‘visualise’ public opinion -Strong focus on accountability and transparency, before and (especially) after the revolution The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Three suggestions - Better inter-connectivity among those African publics (i.e. civil society activists and start-up businesses) striving to promote an open society model - Raising awareness at the level of governments of the necessity to promote bottom-up approaches to innovation -Revising the notion of “digital divide” which poorly accounts for the technological convergence enabled by networking technologies

The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Thank you!