Internet Use and Understanding Democracy in Africa

Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 2025.05 - ISSN : 1955-611X - eISSN : 2968-6687 This paper examines how using the internet and social networks as information sources affects individuals' understanding of democracy. Using data from the sixth round of the Afrobarometer survey (2014), which includes both open- and closed-ended questions on democracy, the study analyzes how online information influences political perceptions across African countries. Open-ended responses are structured using ChatGPT. The identification strategy exploits the interaction between lightning activity and 3G coverage, where lightning causes random internet disruptions, providing an exogenous source of variation. Findings reveal that reliance on Internet-based information negatively biases individuals' understanding of democracy, freedom of expression, and institutional corruption, while positively biasing perceptions of electoral fairness. Given the strong link between democratic understanding and preferences for democracy, these biases may shape political attitudes. As Internet use grows in Africa, its role in influencing political perspectives becomes increasingly significant.