An analysis of Social Media use in The SADC region - 2014 - 2020 Key highlights i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. xii. xiii. xiv. 5 Regional countries spend about 1.1 percent of GDP on digital investment, while advanced economies spend an average of 3.2 percent 37% of social media users in the region have contributed to the creation of news, commented on it or shared it with others There is an upward trend in arrests and detentions after political related publications on social media. Notable regional trend in political parties and governments gaging members on social media. Social media interruptions through internet disruption are now common in the region. Citizen journalism through social media is on the rise in the region. There is significant growing employment of social media surveillance which threatens to squeeze the space for freedom of expression and access to information, including civic activism on social media. Increasing presence of social media within political campaigns and electoral processes across the region. Significant rise in organized social media manipulation through cyber troops within the region Substantial use of social media to ‘break’ news by traditional media houses. Increase in social media surveillance in the region. Internet penetration in 2019 averaged 39.6 percent in region compared to 62.7 percent in the rest of the world, affecting social media usage. Region has some of the highest total cost of mobile ownership in the world ranging from 10% to 68% of average income and also has highest cost of internet; limiting social media usage. Africa remains the only continent whose digital gender gap has widened since 2013 https://zimbabwe.misa.org