The impact of Social Media on the Digital Footprints of Young People in the African Context: a Case of Harare: Zimbabwe

Abstract

Historically, mental health in African health systems and development policies has been sidelined due to a myriad reasons. The impacts of mental health are far-reaching, and much has been learned; however, far more remains unknown, particulately the conceptualization of mental health issues confronting African youth in the digital era, notwithstanding social media being an integral part of daily life in the region. Human advancement is behind the explosion in the use of technological gadgets and the internet. As the dividends of modernity unfold, young people have been the frontrunners in using the web and internt-based platforms that allow people to connect with others on virtual social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Snapchat. Of concern to this project is the articulation of how the youth use social media to become both victims and perpetrators of online social cruelty, leading to social isolation, emotional distress, toxic online interaction, cyberbullying and loneliness. Monumental mental health effects have been witnessed due to a chance in human agency processes, leading to social media-use related suicides, substance abuse, online identity theft and character assassination. This project brings to the fore the impact of social media on the mental health of young people living in an African context, using the case of Harare, Zimbabwe.