They inform, entertain, and connect… but they can also manipulate, divide, and expose. In Cameroon, social media now holds an indispensable place in the daily lives of young people. Between learning opportunities, digital entrepreneurship, and freedom of expression, they open new perspectives. This episode of PasSansElles focused on the impact of social media on youth in Cameroon, bringing together entrepreneurs, influencers, and journalists.

Participants explained how platforms allow them to promote their activities, share knowledge, reach a wide audience, and build communities. Several examples showed that social media can foster youth expression, support marginalized individuals, and offer economic opportunities.

However, young people point out the main pitfalls: addiction, disinformation, image and content piracy, social comparison, and overexposure of private life. Some speakers regretted that many young people often favor purely entertaining content over educational or inspiring material.

Media literacy

Guests emphasized the need for digital education, responsible and conscious use of social media, and the importance of developing critical thinking toward information and content circulated online. Their main message is that social media are neither good nor bad in themselves: it all depends on how they are used.