Social media is booming in Somalia, but at what cost?

Social media platforms are used in our daily lives. Somali youth, children, and even elders—across rural and urban areas—are among those in Africa rapidly adopting this technology. Our digital inclusion is at an incredibly high level, but this rapid adoption has outpaced the growth of digital literacy and awareness. Using these platforms without understanding their harms has left our society vulnerable to digital risks: misinformation and propaganda, AI-generated content that looks real, content creators who prioritize views and fame over social consequences, and content spreading across our society, unregulated and unfiltered.

Social media has replaced traditional media. Journalists use it to report on politics, security, and social issues more quickly than with traditional media outlets. Bypassing editorial hierarchies and bureaucratic processes allows them to break news faster and reach larger audiences directly. As a result, many individuals now turn to social media personalities and independent journalists for information, reducing the gatekeeping role and influence traditionally exercised by media organizations. Social media is now a readily accessible source of information.

The absence of editorial oversight, professional standards, and accountability mechanisms can lead to the spread of propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation. Platforms are often used not only to share information but also to promote specific narratives and shape public opinion. In a society where oral communication remains highly influential, such narratives can spread rapidly and have a lasting impact on how individuals perceive political, social, and security issues. This gap in digital literacy is widening amid the rapid growth of social media and overall internet usage.

Social media is booming

Digital use has grown in East Africa, especially in Somalia. According to DataReportal’s Digital 2025 report, Somalia had 10.7 million internet users at the start of 2025, accounting for 55.2% of its population. Social media reached 3.05 million users, with TikTok and Facebook the dominant platforms. Given that Somalia has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age of just 15.6, young people make up the overwhelming majority of these users, and for many, social media has also become a source of income, a significant benefit given the country’s unemployment situation.

This extensive use of social media reflects Somalia’s cultural background. Historically, oratory and word of mouth have been Somalis’ effective media for social dialogue and discourse. These traditional methods of communication continue to influence the modern use of social media, which extends this cultural tradition.

While Somalia continues to grow digitally, safeguards are needed. Protecting our youth begins with parents, but most lack the digital awareness needed to protect their children. Imagine a child using their parent’s phone and social media. Without parental guidance, they consume content intended for adults. Content creators and viewers alike need to be aware of the effect of digital content.

Teenagers posting on social media don’t understand the long-term consequences of their actions and how these can affect their future. Each post has a digital footprint, stored in an archive of everything posted online. Sharing inappropriate content can permanently damage our personal brand and dignity, even if we change our minds later. The internet doesn’t forget, and that post can be retrieved at any time. Society will judge us forever for what we did once. When this lack of awareness exposes the vulnerable to bullying, harassing, or mocking for entertainment, we see how far behind we are in digital ethics. Continuing in this way will damage our society.

The spread of unverified information

Social media platforms are not built to protect us. Their algorithms are designed to reward engagement over accuracy. This systemic bias amplifies misinformation at the expense of factual content. While Somalia’s rich oral culture has historically relied on the truth, the sudden shift to digital platforms—combined with the country’s high illiteracy—makes Somalis particularly susceptible to consuming unverified content. A post on a sensitive subject—a clan dispute, an attack, a rumor about a public figure—can reach hundreds of thousands before anyone questions its source. Emotional content spreads much faster than factual content. Together, algorithmically rewarded outrage and low verification habits leave our society vulnerable to believing anything that goes viral. This is how false narratives spread and take hold.

Unlike today’s digital environment, traditional Somali oral society emphasized the accurate transmission of messages. Oral communication was carefully verified and reproduced with remarkable precision, a practice that scholars of Somali culture consider exceptional. Deliberately altering a message was culturally unacceptable and strongly condemned. This value is reflected in the Somali proverb, Farriini waa qaan (A message is a debt), which emphasizes accountability in communication. Unfortunately, many young Somalis, unfamiliar with this tradition, pay less attention to the accuracy and responsibility of the content they share on social media.

The most dangerous form of unverified information is health related. Unqualified individuals regularly share medical advice, treatments, and supposed cures on social media without expertise or accountability. People with low digital literacy consume this content uncritically, putting their health at serious risk.

Today generative AI makes it increasingly easy to produce convincing but fake content. As a result, this technology is highly effective in spreading fake news, destroying public trust, and blurring the line between fact and fiction for everyone.

When encountering content online, ask three simple questions:

• Is it true?
• Is it good?
• Is it useful?

This framework captures exactly what is missing in the way many Somalis consume and circulate information online. Content that fails any of these tests should not be shared. The absence of such critical thinking, combined with a lack of legal accountability for those who spread harmful content, leaves society deeply exposed to the consequences of misinformation.

Legal and regulatory gaps

Beyond digital awareness and society’s collective responsibility, legal frameworks are needed to hold accountable those responsible. These frameworks should balance our use of social media by mitigating its risks and encouraging its positive aspects. Somalia has made considerable progress in digital transformation with the development of policies that include the Cybercrime Bill 2025, the Data Protection Act 2023, and the National Cybersecurity Law. The country still lacks laws that govern content, address misinformation, ensure content creators and platforms are held accountable, protect children, and reduce the harmful effects of social media.

Conclusion

Social media will shape the culture, respect, ethics, and future of our youth and children. Its rapid growth presents both opportunities and risks. Its opportunities include income generation, information sharing, and connection. Its potential is undeniable. But if we aren’t aware of the hatred, clannism, and unethical content we are sharing with others, the negative effects of social media will outweigh its benefits. Failing to filter the information our children get from social media, puts us at significant risk. While enjoying its benefits, we must protect our society from its harmful side. This requires encouraging and improving digital awareness across all segments of society, from elders to teenagers, and developing rules and policies to govern the use of social media.