As the world continues to advance in technology, many countries are looking to tech solutions for various sectors. However, a pressing question arises: What can be done to prevent African youth from spending excessive time on social media instead of using these platforms productively for job-seeking or improving their daily work?
Clarisse Umutoni, a student at UNILAK University in the technology department, thinks that today’s youth are more engrossed in social media than in seeking out opportunities that could improve their lives.
“When I look at my classmates or most of my friends, they spend their entire day on social media, from morning until night. And when you analyze what they focus on, it’s usually things that aren’t beneficial to them. It fosters laziness because they aspire to live the lives of celebrities they see in films. If the government doesn’t act, the unemployment rate will rise dramatically, causing a serious problem,” Clarisse said.
Jean Claude Manzi, a 25-year-old who completed high school three years ago, also voiced his concerns. Though he acknowledges the current scarcity of jobs, he believes that the attitude of the youth is also a major concern.
“Yes, jobs are hard to come by. I’ve been unemployed for three years, although I occasionally find short-term gigs. But I can’t ignore the fact that many young people, whether educated or not, are stuck on social media. Instead of actively looking for opportunities, they choose to spend their time online. Without action, the number of unemployed youth will only continue to grow. Another problem is that social media is often filled with misinformation,” Manzi explained.
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, has highlighted the potential of social media as a tool for profitable growth, particularly for entrepreneurs and businesses. The ministry emphasizes the importance of using social media platforms not just for communication but for creating revenue streams and enhancing digital literacy.
“To achieve profitability, MyICT encourages individuals and organizations to focus on strategies like building a strong online presence, utilizing social commerce to sell directly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and leveraging affiliate marketing to generate income.”
As of early 2024, Rwanda continues to see significant growth in internet usage among its youth population. Facebook, one of the most popular platforms, had approximately 930,000 users, with 9.8% of the eligible population (aged 13 and above) active on the platform. Instagram is also widely used, with around 361,300 users, accounting for about 7.4% of internet users. These figures indicate an upward trend in social media use, particularly among young people.
