Social Media and Africa's Youth

Just over a few years ago, the term "digital divide" was ubiquitous diagnosis for growth and development in poor countries--fast forward to 2011 and one would wonder whatever happened to all the hypes about digital divide?

It must be acknowledged that some progress have been made over the years. People in Africa are using social network such as Facebook, LinkeIn, Twitter and Skype to connect to the rest of the world like never before-- it is indeed refreshing for those of us living miles away from the continent to get such instant access thanks the power of the internet.

I strongly agree with people who think that the dotcom revolution is the best thing to happen to developing countries. Imagine students, workers and leaders from Africa sharing knowledge and information with the rest of the world in real time--I bet my college days would have been less stressful if I had such access to information.

Arab Spring has shown us that the internet has a leg of its own and that no one can stop it. Empowering citizens from poor countries (often saddled with authoritarian regimes) with such vital tool will clearly cut everyone's job out for them. The internet business in Africa and other developing countries must transition for its present awareness stage to critical mass stage. It is up to the world to make this happen.

You know what we say in Africa, when you walk alone, you walk fast but when you walk together, you walk far--lets share this revolution togther.