Social Media Governance in Cameroon: An Inquiry Into its Regalian Role of Ensuring Security to Users
Keywords:
Social Media, Governance, Security, Users, Formal and InformalAbstract
The social media with its facinating speed and ease in communication has in the last three decades caused a systematic change in the livelihood of many and a new pattern in the modes of human interaction. Its multiplier effect is being felt heavily in the domain of comminication, medicine and businesses, with a move from traditional business to e-commerce. While applauding this technology that today unites the world as global village, it is recurrent in our daily dealings that the social media has its own setbacks, as no one seems to be safe from cybercriminals and persons with mailicious intents on the social media. It is on this premise that we set out in this research to investigate and uncover the nature of social media governance in Cameroon, while questioning its effectiveness in providing adequate safty to its users. Making use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, our findings reveal that the existing formal and informal governance techniques applied both by the public and
piravte parties seems inefficent in resolving the already existing difficulties of social media users and if not upgraded, the situation might eventually become very degrading in the long-run. It is on this setback that we advocate for an increase in public-private partnership in the fight against cybercrimes and equally a greater cooperation amongst states for a global governance with the creation of a global social media policy.
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