social media - The African Mirror

Jul

18

2024

Olympics 2024: what new social media guidelines mean for athletes and their sponsors

SPORT

CELLPHONE cameras are ubiquitous at modern sporting events. Whether it’s a school swimming gala, the local rugby club squaring off against their bitter rivals or a national team fighting for tournament glory, every moment is a potential photograph. The Olympic Games are no exception. More than 10,000 athletes from 200 countries or regions are set to compete in 32 sports in this year’s host city, Paris, giving fans ample opportunity to fill their camera rolls with images of their favourite sporting heroes. And participants, too, will be able to memorialise their time in Paris – far more freely than ever…

Jun

02

2024

By GIBSON NCUBE and PRINCESS SIBANDA

TikTok activism: how queer Zimbabweans use social media to show love and fight hate

LIFESTYLE

IN Zimbabwe, there is a long held public view that queerness is “unAfrican” and imported to Africa from the west. Even though numerous studies have proven this not to be true, reiterations of this lie by the state has led many to believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people cannot be Zimbabwean. Robert Mugabe, the country’s first president, was infamous for his homophobic rhetoric. He often compared gender and sexual minorities to pigs and dogs. Such homophobic utterances further reduced the spaces where LGBTIQ+ people could live and express themselves without fear. In Zimbabwe, same-sex sexual…

May

16

2024

By SISANDA NKOALA

Science journalism in South Africa: social media is helping connect with new readers

MEDIA FREEDOM

SCIENCE journalism is about taking complex academic research and turning it into easy-to-read content that is still accurate. Aside from informing readers through evidence-based journalism, it aims to make the wider public curious about scientific research. This article is an example of science journalism. As a media professor, I conducted a study on how social media sites like X (formerly known as Twitter) can help science communication reach new audiences in South Africa. This article is a version of that study written in a way that people other than just academics can understand. In my study I analysed the X…

Apr

10

2024

By Mpho Rantao

Fluence Africa Festival empowers micro creators

CULTURE

ACCORDING TO IT Web, the creator economy is set to top R 689 million by 2027. The social media landscape is witnessing a meteoric rise in the influencer marketing industry. This shift in consumer behaviour has opened a golden door for brands. Forecasts predict continued explosive growth in influencer marketing, with businesses projected to allocate a significant portion of their marketing budgets to partner with these social media stars. Fueled by the ever-growing user base on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, influencers are no longer just personalities, and brands have responded to the growth with projections of marketing budgets…

Mar

06

2024

By GEORGE OGOLA

Kenyans use humour to counter unpopular state policies – memes are the latest tool

NEWS

SEEMINGLY disillusioned with the country’s leadership, Kenyans have taken to new ways of expressing their anger and frustration with their government. On social media and in everyday conversations, President William Ruto is now referred to as Zakayo, named after the infamous Zaccheaus, the much-hated chief tax collector in biblical Jericho. Ruto is also called Kaunda Uongoman, which mimics the stage name of a controversial Congolese musician, Kanda Bongoman. The first name is a reference to Ruto’s recent penchant for Kaunda suits. The surname is a portmanteau of the Kiswahili word uongo, meaning liar, and man. These nicknames are examples of…

Feb

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Police beatings of pro-Palestinian schoolchildren spark outrage in Italy

WORLD

FOOTAGE of police beating pro-Palestinian students drew broad condemnation in Italy, with the opposition calling for the interior minister to address parliament over the episode. Student marches were blocked by police in the Tuscan cities of Florence and Pisa, with images of officers vigorously using their truncheons on school-age protesters in Pisa triggering outrage on social media and from politicians. The videos showed the students, who appeared to be protesting peacefully, retreating under a hail of blows from law enforcers wearing helmets and full riot gear. "Is this how you beat your own children," one young woman is heard shouting.…

Feb

01

2024

By The African Mirror

How teenagers navigate the nuances of social media – and what adults can learn from them

EDUCATION

FOR older generations, social media might feel like a specific and often new way of interacting – markedly different from meeting in person or talking on the phone. For most teenagers, though, it is part of an interconnected social landscape. They may not necessarily need to distinguish social connections as either online or offline. These can be fluid across digital and physical spaces. LINDA KAYE, Associate Head of Psychology (Knowledge Exchange and Marketing), Edge Hill University But there are nuances to interacting on social media – and teens are often acutely aware of them. Social media accounts are often characterised…

Dec

24

2023

By AHMED KINGIMI and ISAAC ANYAOGU

Nigeria to investigate killings of endangered wildlife, environment minister says

NEWS

NIGERIA will investigate the killing of endangered wildlife after a video posted on social media showed a soldier killing two elephants in the northeastern Borno state, the environment minister said. The video has widely circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, sparking outrage among Nigerians, who have condemned the killing of the animals that were reportedly roaming in farmlands and called for stricter measures to protect endangered wildlife. In addition to the elephants, two booted eagles that migrated from Europe were killed in northwestern Kebbi and Sokoto states last month, and a university professor was reportedly involved in the killing…

Nov

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Newcastle’s Bruno and Willock racially abused on social media after Arsenal game

FOOTBALL

NEWCASTLE United have condemned racist abuse sent to Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock on social media following Saturday's 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League. "Our message is clear. There is no room for racism in football or society," the club said. "We are providing support to Bruno and Joe and will work with relevant authorities and social media platforms to identify those responsible so that they can be held to account." Bruno escaped a booking for a late elbow on Arsenal midfielder Jorginho in a tense and fractious contest at St James' Park. Willock, a former Arsenal player, was involved…

Jun

15

2023

By The African Mirror

Senegal’s internet shutdowns are another sign of a democracy in peril

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SENEGAL’S government began blocking several digital platforms – including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube – in certain areas on 1 June. Days later, it extended the disruptions to all mobile internet and several television stations. The social networks were shut down for two days. This was followed by a four-day mobile internet shutdown. Author JEFF CONROY-KRUTZ, Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University Given that nearly all Senegalese internet users access it through their mobile phones, these moves constituted a near-total block on digital communications and information. Internet penetration in Senegal has exploded in recent years. A decade…