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Africans Are Increasingly Online, but Awareness and Practice of Digital Safety Remain Low

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Africans Are Increasingly Online, but Awareness and Practice of Digital Safety Remain Low


Many say they worry that others will track or steal their personal data.

Key findings

  • On average across the seven surveyed countries, among adults who access Internet content, a vast majority (84%) say they do so “every day” or “a few times a week.”
  • Mobile phones are the primary mechanism for accessing the Internet (85%).
  • Young adults (aged 18-35) are more likely to be regular Internet users (87%) than older cohorts (74%-83%).
  • More than eight in 10 respondents (82%) say they get news “every day” or “a few times a week” from social media platforms. In addition, half (51%) say they get news regularly from other Internet sites.
  • More than half (52%) express concern about the security of their personal information online, and 81% think mobile phones are more vulnerable to harmful online activities than computers and other devices.
  • Only about one-third (32%) of respondents consider themselves “somewhat” (22%) or “very” (10%) familiar with tools and skills they can use to protect their digital privacy and information.
  • Use of protective tools and practices by Internet users is highly variable: o More than seven in 10 (72%) say they use strong passwords to protect their online information, though only about half (52%) of Beninese make that claim.
  • Other security measures are much less commonly used, including two-factor authentication (33%), antivirus software (30%), and virtual private networks (VPNs) (21%).
  • More than two-thirds of respondents say they did not click on unknown links (68%) or download files from unknown sources (70%) during the previous year.
  • Youth and men report higher use of most online security tools, while older adults and women are more cautious about clicking suspicious links or downloading unknown files.
  • Most respondents rely on social media (60%) and friends and family (62%) to learn about online safety tools.
  • Fewer than half turn to online videos/tutorials (48%), news articles/websites (32%), and the workplace (29%) as sources of information about online safety.


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Across Africa, Internet and social media use have surged in recent years, especially among young people. Internet use on the continent is growing twice as fast as the global average (Ecofin Agency, 2025), although penetration – the percentage of the population using the

Internet – varies widely across countries, from near universal (92%) in Morocco to less than 15% in Burundi and Chad (Statista, 2025). The rapid increase in Internet penetration has yielded significant socioeconomic benefits, from mobile-money services for previously unbanked populations and greater security for financial transactions (GSM Association, 2020) to anti-corruption tools and improved trust in tax administration (Ouedraogo & Sy, 2020).

But online connectivity is not without risks. Interpol’s African cyberthreat assessment highlights a rapid increase in cybercrime, particularly ransomware, digital extortion, and online scams (Interpol, 2024). For many Internet users, social media platforms serve as primary sources of news and everyday information, which amplifies their exposure to misinformation, scams, data breaches, and cyber extortion.

Although the growth in online presence has yet to be met with a corresponding rise in online safety awareness or digital literacy (Fikre, 2025), African governments have started to take steps to promote awareness and protect citizens as well as critical infrastructure from malign online activities. A growing number of countries are developing and deploying national cybersecurity strategies, legal frameworks, and relevant policies. For instance, Kenya’s cybersecurity strategy prioritises national security and the safety of Kenyans online (Republic of Kenya, 2025), and Ghana’s focuses on securing the country’s expanded digitisation initiatives, including national identification and digital-address systems (Republic of Ghana, 2024). Some governments have launched nationwide initiatives to create awareness and promote safer online behaviour. In Malawi, a national campaign launched in conjunction with Global Cybersecurity Awareness Month emphasised the importance of creating awareness of digital threats and practicing online security (TechAfrica News, 2025). Similarly, in Rwanda, the government is working with schools to provide cybersecurity education and increase awareness of online risks (Irasubiza, 2025).

To contribute to this discourse and inform public policy, Afrobarometer conducted a telephone survey of adult Internet users in seven African countries in 2025 to explore their digital presence and cybersecurity awareness, including their understanding of digital threats and their use of online safety tools and practices. Findings show that while most access the Internet frequently, many remain unfamiliar with digital security measures and practice them inconsistently if at all. To learn about online safety, people tend to rely on informal networks -such as social media and personal connections – rather than formal educational programmes or training.