By Phoebe Wangui Mburu

On September 24-25, SIMElab Africa hosted the International Symposium on Social Media (ISSM) 2025, under the theme “Algorithmic Power & Digital Democracy: Trust, Governance, and Rights in the Age of Social Media.” The symposium brought together scholars, policymakers, students, and industry leaders to reimagine how digital technologies shape democracy, governance, and human rights in Africa and beyond.

The two-day event featured plenary sessions, paper presentations, and panel discussions that explored topics ranging from algorithmic governance and misinformation to artificial intelligence, influencer accountability, and civic participation. Collectively, these conversations reaffirmed USIU-Africa’s position as a hub for Social Media research and knowledge exchange in Africa.

Speaking during the event, Prof. Patrick Wamuyu, Coordinator of SIMElab Africa and Associate Dean at the School of Graduate Studies, emphasized that Africa must not be a passive player in global digital debates. “The future of digital democracy will be defined by how we balance trust, governance, and innovation, and Africa has the talent and vision to lead this transformation,” he noted. His leadership continues to anchor SIMElab as a premier center for digital media research, bridging academia, policy, and practice.

Nyandia Gachago, the CEO of MintyLime and a recognized thought leader in AI-driven marketing, gave a presentation, emphasizing the responsibility of digital influencers and brands in shaping authentic narratives. She urged for deeper collaborations between academia and industry to counter misinformation and build trust. Her remarks highlighted the strategic role of AI-first solutions in Africa’s communication landscape.

Adding a continental perspective, Prof. Mandla Radebe from the University of Johannesburg reflected on the intersections of digital capitalism, media, and democracy. Drawing from over two decades of experience and groundbreaking publications, Prof. Radebe cautioned against the risks of unchecked algorithmic power while championing inclusive governance structures that safeguard digital rights and amplify marginalized voices.

From the Weizenbaum Institute in Berlin, Prof. Martin Emmer presented empirical research on public perceptions of the internet, exploring the shift from early optimism about digital democracy to today’s more critical outlook. He introduced the concept of “bad participation,” encompassing online behaviors such as hate speech that erode trust in democratic spaces. Despite these challenges, Prof. Emmer’s findings affirmed the internet’s ongoing potential as a platform for civic expression and political engagement. His institute also expressed willingness to publish selected symposium papers, offering African researchers a global platform to share their work.

The symposium further showcased the creativity and rigor of emerging researchers. Jennifer Kyalo from USIU-Africa explored the link between social media use and depression among undergraduates, finding that passive scrolling strongly correlates with mental health risks. Additionally, Felix Kiprono from Daystar University presented groundbreaking work on deepfake detection, exposing algorithmic bias in AI-driven verification tools. Other presentations contributed bold insights into digital participation, civic culture, and governance, demonstrating that Africa’s youth are ready to shape solutions for the digital age.

The event also featured a panel discussion on “Power, Ethics, and Participation,” which examined the role of academia in embedding ethics and digital literacy into curricula. Panelists urged citizens to embrace civic decency online and verify information before sharing, while also highlighting the importance of influencer accountability and warning that brand misalignment fuels misinformation. Collectively, the discussion underscored the need for ethical education, cross-sector collaboration, and a culture of respect and responsibility in Kenya’s digital spaces.

Reflecting on the symposium’s outcomes, Prof. Emmer concluded, “Events like ISSM 2025 prove that global collaboration is the only way forward. Africa’s voice is not just part of the digital future, it is essential to shaping it.”

The success of ISSM 2025 was made possible through a collaboration between SIMELab Africa and the Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society, an interdisciplinary, free, open-access journal that investigates processes of digitalization in society from the perspectives of different research areas. The Journal's participation was critical to ensuring a global, inclusive, and impactful outcome.