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Does social media improve women's political empowerment in Africa?

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  • Ongo Nkoa, Bruno Emmanuel
  • Ondoua Beyene, Blaise
  • Ngo Nsoa Simb, Jacky Flore
  • Ngnouwal Eloundou, Georges

Abstract

The use of social media has grown significantly in Africa over the past two decades and is the subject of recent literature. In this article, we examine its direct and indirect effects on women's political empowerment (WPE) in Africa. Based on a sample of 45 African countries, we specify and estimate a panel data model using the Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS) method and the System Generalized Method of Moment (S-GMM) over the period 2009–2019. Our results show that social media, as measured by the Facebook penetration rate, significantly increases WPE. Their effects are channeled through the diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), electricity consumption, human capital and political stability. The robustness of the results is proven by alternative measures of WPE and social media. In order to strengthen WPE, public policies must increase women's access to social media.

Suggested Citation

  • Ongo Nkoa, Bruno Emmanuel & Ondoua Beyene, Blaise & Ngo Nsoa Simb, Jacky Flore & Ngnouwal Eloundou, Georges, 2023. "Does social media improve women's political empowerment in Africa?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:47:y:2023:i:9:s0308596123001350
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2023.102624
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacques Simon Song & Hervé William Mougnol A Ekoula & Georges Ngnouwal Eloundou, 2024. "Alcohol consumption in developing countries: Does information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion matter?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 1210-1240, March.
    2. Nadège Ngah Otabela & Patrick Marie Nga Ndjobo & Sem I‐dé Dringa, 2025. "Does Social Media Improve the Subjective Well‐Being of Older African Women?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 37(2), June.
    3. Georges Ngnouwal Eloundou & Blaise Ondoua Beyene & Bruno Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa, 2025. "On the Path to Accelerating Industrialisation in Africa: The Role of Fiscal Decentralisation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(6), pages 17639-17663, December.
    4. Bruno Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa & Jacques Simon Song & Blaise Ondoua Beyene & Georges Ngnouwal Eloundou, 2023. "Does social media drive remittances in Africa?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 35(4), pages 429-443, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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