March 17, 2026
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Africans Are More and more On-line, however Consciousness and Apply of Digital Security Stay Low

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Africans Are More and more On-line, however Consciousness and Apply of Digital Security Stay Low


Many say they fear that others will monitor or steal their private information.

Key findings

  • On common throughout the seven surveyed nations, amongst adults who entry Web content material, a overwhelming majority (84%) say they accomplish that “daily” or “a number of instances per week.”
  • Cell phones are the first mechanism for accessing the Web (85%).
  • Younger adults (aged 18-35) usually tend to be common Web customers (87%) than older cohorts (74%-83%).
  • Greater than eight in 10 respondents (82%) say they get information “daily” or “a number of instances per week” from social media platforms. As well as, half (51%) say they get information commonly from different Web websites.
  • Greater than half (52%) categorical concern concerning the safety of their private info on-line, and 81% suppose cellphones are extra weak to dangerous on-line actions than computer systems and different gadgets.
  • Solely about one-third (32%) of respondents contemplate themselves “considerably” (22%) or “very” (10%) aware of instruments and expertise they’ll use to guard their digital privateness and data.
  • Use of protecting instruments and practices by Web customers is extremely variable: o Greater than seven in 10 (72%) say they use robust passwords to guard their on-line info, although solely about half (52%) of Beninese make that declare.
  • Different safety measures are a lot much less generally used, together with two-factor authentication (33%), antivirus software program (30%), and digital non-public networks (VPNs) (21%).
  • Greater than two-thirds of respondents say they didn’t click on on unknown hyperlinks (68%) or obtain information from unknown sources (70%) through the earlier yr.
  • Youth and males report greater use of most on-line safety instruments, whereas older adults and girls are extra cautious about clicking suspicious hyperlinks or downloading unknown information.
  • Most respondents depend on social media (60%) and family and friends (62%) to find out about on-line security instruments.
  • Fewer than half flip to on-line movies/tutorials (48%), information articles/web sites (32%), and the office (29%) as sources of details about on-line security.


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Throughout Africa, Web and social media use have surged lately, particularly amongst younger individuals. Web use on the continent is rising twice as quick as the worldwide common (Ecofin Company, 2025), though penetration – the proportion of the inhabitants utilizing the

Web – varies extensively throughout nations, from close to common (92%) in Morocco to lower than 15% in Burundi and Chad (Statista, 2025). The fast improve in Web penetration has yielded vital socioeconomic advantages, from mobile-money companies for beforehand unbanked populations and larger safety for monetary transactions (GSM Affiliation, 2020) to anti-corruption instruments and improved belief in tax administration (Ouedraogo & Sy, 2020).

However on-line connectivity isn’t with out dangers. Interpol’s African cyberthreat evaluation highlights a fast improve in cybercrime, notably ransomware, digital extortion, and on-line scams (Interpol, 2024). For a lot of Web customers, social media platforms function main sources of stories and on a regular basis info, which amplifies their publicity to misinformation, scams, information breaches, and cyber extortion.

Though the expansion in on-line presence has but to be met with a corresponding rise in on-line security consciousness or digital literacy (Fikre, 2025), African governments have began to take steps to advertise consciousness and shield residents in addition to important infrastructure from malign on-line actions. A rising variety of nations are creating and deploying nationwide cybersecurity methods, authorized frameworks, and related insurance policies. For example, Kenya’s cybersecurity technique prioritises nationwide safety and the security of Kenyans on-line (Republic of Kenya, 2025), and Ghana’s focuses on securing the nation’s expanded digitisation initiatives, together with nationwide identification and digital-address techniques (Republic of Ghana, 2024). Some governments have launched nationwide initiatives to create consciousness and promote safer on-line behaviour. In Malawi, a nationwide marketing campaign launched together with International Cybersecurity Consciousness Month emphasised the significance of making consciousness of digital threats and training on-line safety (TechAfrica Information, 2025). Equally, in Rwanda, the federal government is working with faculties to supply cybersecurity schooling and improve consciousness of on-line dangers (Irasubiza, 2025).

To contribute to this discourse and inform public coverage, Afrobarometer performed a phone survey of grownup Web customers in seven African nations in 2025 to discover their digital presence and cybersecurity consciousness, together with their understanding of digital threats and their use of on-line security instruments and practices. Findings present that whereas most entry the Web regularly, many stay unfamiliar with digital safety measures and follow them inconsistently if in any respect. To find out about on-line security, individuals are inclined to depend on casual networks -such as social media and private connections – slightly than formal academic programmes or coaching.