In recent years, social media has become one of the informal policymaking spaces globally and in Africa. Even though the extent to which it influences policy output in Africa is yet to be effectively established, online sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide information that can be used to inform public policy. Social media campaigns such as #feesmustfall in South Africa and #bringbackourgirls in Nigeria showcase the growing power of social media in the public policy space. Also, most African government agencies and leaders have intensified their online presence, interacting with the public and stakeholders on pertinent policy situations. Therefore, this chapter discusses social media’s role in policymaking in Botswana, South Africa, and Malawi. It shows that while social media can potentially enrich the policymaking process, there are no social media laws to guide the engagement, hence, the need for the same. Other lessons include bridging the digital divide and adopting the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms.

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