Social Media, Youth, and the Global South

This book illuminates the complex relationship between social media, identity, and youth in the Global South. By examining the profound impact on the psychosocial well-being and economic prospects of young people across diverse regions, the collection present empirical evidence from scholars spanning Asia, Africa, North America, Central, and South America.

Contributors show how young people experience adverse side-effects online, such as social withdrawal, or animosity to others, and how good social health and social media use can help young people develop economic resources, become independent, and socially responsible. Additionally, the book explores the role of social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram, in the rise of cyberbullying, sexting, and online radicalization; how these platforms re-negotiate identity in developing countries and compromise productivity; and how the behaviour of celebrities on said platforms influence youth behaviour.

Structured into five thematic sections, this book presents a nuanced understanding of the well-being implications arising from social media use among young people hailing from diverse socio-cultural and economic backgrounds and political exigencies.

"Emannuel Ngwainmbi’s ambitious book on Social Media, Youth, and the Global South adds essential global voices to our understanding of the benefits and in particular, the dangers of social media for young people. It is widely known that young people, likely to engage in high-sensation risk-taking and highly susceptible to peer evaluations and peer pressure, are enormously vulnerable to the judgments of others on social media. When compounded by multiple, intersectional disadvantages experienced by youth in the Global South, including poverty, unemployment, gender-based discrimination, and health disparities, youth vulnerability to social media is magnified exponentially. Dr. Ngwainmbi has assembled a collection of fascinating essays from throughout the Global South, giving new voices to those so devastatingly disadvantaged and offering indispensable reading for all who care about the mental health of young people everywhere."
—John C. Pollock, Ph.D., Professor, Depts. of Communication Studies and Public Health, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA

"Social Media, Youth, and the Global South is a compelling and comprehensive book that sheds light on the dynamic relationship between young people and social media worldwide. With a focus on Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, this groundbreaking edited work provides valuable insights into the interplay between identity and alterity on social media platforms. The multidisciplinary approach, including contributions from business analysts, psychologists, and media law legislators, profoundly enriches the book’s empirical evidence and perspectives. This book covers a wide range of critical topics, from the positive impact on public health to the perils of cyberbullying and radicalization. This book is an essential read and an indispensable resource for academics, policymakers, and professionals seeking to understand the complexities and consequences of social media use on global youth cultures."
—Dr. Yachao Li, Assistant Professor, Depts. of Communication Studies and Public Health, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA

"With his new book, Social Media, Youth, and the Global South, the prolific scholar, Emmanuel Ngwainmbi has once again stepped out front to lead the conversation around the impact of social media on the youth of the Global South. The essays are brilliant, bristling with sparks of facts and wisdom, and Ngwainmbi's introduction is a solid entry into the discourse. Bravo!"
—Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, professor, author of The History of Africa.

"From an excellent assemble of experts from the Global South, addressing current and topical issues and case studies on social media use among youth in an informed, scholarly, and practical way, this book represents an authority discourse on this subject. It is a great resource for students and scholars in the field."
—Dr. Adebayo Fayoyin, Vice Chair, Health Working Group, International Association for Media and Communication Research

​"This book offers a complex and diverse look at the phenomenon of social networks from the perspective of the global south."
—Dr.  María Cecilia Liotti, PDH Teacher at Center for Research, Teaching and Public Policy Analysis (CIDAPP) - Mérida, Mexico


"An essential text to understand the consumption habits and uses of social media among young people in the global south."
—Dr. Liliana Noemi Ziaurriz, Psychoanalyst and Psychiatrist - Argentine Psychoanalytic Association / University of Buenos Aires – Buenos Aires, Argentina



"Based on cases from the global south, the book helps us understand more about the uses of social networks among young people."

—Dr. Alejandro Sahuí Maldonado – President of the Ibero-American Association of Political Philosophy and author of “Reason and Public Space”

Emmanuel Ngwainmbi is a Professor of International Communication, former Chair & Graduate School Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Jackson State University, MS., and a member of the International Association for Media, Communication, and Research, the International Association of Intercultural Communication Studies, the National Communication Association, International Conference on Social Sciences. He has authored 23 books; serves on the Editorial boards of 15 peer-review journals worldwide.
​