Internet Access Affecting Behaviors In Africa

Access to the Internet is affecting African civic engagement, corruption perceptions and focus on the welfare of its children, according to research released today by the BBG and Gallup. The data examined Internet use in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia and found that going online had measurable impact on the activities, attitudes and behaviors of people in those countries.

“We cannot underestimate the influence that the Internet is having on the communities we’ve surveyed,” said Sonja Gloeckle, Director of Research for the BBG. “And while we see disparities in the amount of access to the Internet in the different countries researched, we are seeing similar behaviors and attitudes among those who go online.” Internet users in each of the countries surveyed are more likely to volunteer their time or provide assistance to others, as measured by Gallup’s Civic Engagement Index.