Why a Social Compass is Key to Building a Trusted Digital Africa

By Jackson Okata

Across the African continent, digital technology is sweeping at a rapid rate, transforming what was once a novelty into an essential lifeline. Over the past few years, mobile phones have evolved into multifunctional devices, serving as classrooms, wallets, maps, and meeting halls.

Through a simple mobile phone, people search, buy, learn, travel, engage in civic life, and shape tomorrow's ideas. With this surge, there are hard questions about inclusion, safety, and trust, as well as the rules that will guide this promise.

People often refer to technology as a tool. For Africa, it represents a social force that impacts institutions, rewires habits, and sets the culture's grain.

According to Dr Siddhartha Paul Tiwari, a scholar and technology expert who has served as an expert advisor to the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa, technology platforms are civic spaces as much as marketplaces.

“Utilising technology platforms can facilitate conversations, drive growth, and empower communities. African culture and societies are among the most diverse in the world, presenting both opportunities and challenges when it comes to embracing change,” said Dr Tiwari.

Digital Technology Challenges

Dr Tiwari agrees that change is evident in everyday life across the African continent, with rhythms of daily life reflecting the transformation, but digital transformation presents its unique challenges.

“Today, millions of people carry a bank in their pockets and participate in the economy more directly. The opening of this door is accompanied by risk as predatory lending and online fraud seek to take advantage of it,” said the co-author of the book “Understanding Technology in the Context of National Development: Critical Reflections”.

Dr Tiwari raises the question of data management and access, even as governments streamline access to public services through digital technology.

“Lessons now cross international borders as students and teachers meet on shared platforms, but the glow of the screen reveals the gap between a city grid and a rural signal. As digital government streamlines access to public services, it also raises serious concerns about the management of data and who has access to it,” he noted.

In his recent work on digital governance, Tiwari emphasises the importance of content moderation and analysis of user behaviour as beams that support a more secure digital environment.

“We face a dilemma as we attempt to safeguard the free flow of information while simultaneously stemming the spread of lies, hatred, and harm”.

“Growth lines do not provide a clear picture of Africa's future. Trust is the most important currency,” he writes.

Tech Transformation vs. Equity and Inclusivity

As Tiwari writes, the telephone is more than just a communication device; it represents a gateway to services, a means of learning, and a sense of belonging.

“The frontier is now small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. A mobile phone is an integral part of daily life in Africa, making it a stage for mobile-first innovations,” says Dr Tiwari.

The dependence on mobile devices, however, can affect people in areas where literacy is low or where signals are unreliable. The only way to transform these systems into tools of empowerment rather than gates is to design them in a way that honours access and resilience.

And with AI now becoming one of the key inflexion points in Africa, among its impacts will be found in the areas of education, health, mobility, and the arts. According to Tiwari, the question is not whether Africa should adopt artificial intelligence, but rather how to ensure it carries with it the continent's commitment to inclusivity and equity.

Developing innovative solutions is only half of the job; being responsible is the other half. Three main pillars are necessary for a successful transformation of Africa. A comprehensive approach that does not neglect the rural edge.

A system of ethical guardrails for artificial intelligence is necessary to maintain public trust. Democracy thrives and economies grow when people understand and utilise technology effectively. Scammers can easily take advantage of them if they fail to do so.

Africa is poised for a prosperous digital future. The technological revolution cannot be ignored. It must be guided by intention. Choosing inclusion, AI ethics, and public literacy will have an impact on both the markets and the bonds between people.

“The power comes from technology. It is society that sets the course for development,” Dr Tiwari noted.