An analysis of Social Media use in The SADC region - 2014 - 2020 Recommendations Based on the analysis above the paper puts forward the following recommendations to promote social media use in the region and subsequently promote freedom of expression and access to information: Stakeholder engagement on reduction of costs to own handsets and access to the internet 1. Address the digital divide (gender, economical and geographical) through deliberate policies and resource allocation 2. Awareness and training on Social media benefits, use and associated risk 3. Advocacy by litigation of digital rights violations 4. Stakeholder engagement and advocacy against illegal arrest and detentions after political related publication on social media. 5. Promote freedom of speech, access to information and privacy rights. 6. Ensure the internet is kept ‘ON’ without internet shut downs. 7. Promote responsible citizen journalism through social media 8. Advocate for responsible use of social media within political campaigns and electoral processes. 9. Reduction in harmful social media manipulation through cyber troops within the region 50 https://zimbabwe.misa.org