A significant disconnect has emerged between Africa’s rapid digital adoption and its citizens’ awareness of online risks, a gap that threatens to undermine the continent’s burgeoning internet economy and expose users to escalating cyber threats. According to a new Afrobarometer survey spanning 39 African countries, while 69 percent of respondents now go online daily—a dramatic increase from just 24 percent in 2016—the majority lack basic digital safety awareness. The findings, based on over 53,000 interviews, reveal that 64 percent of internet users are unaware of how to protect themselves from online dangers, 63 percent lack knowledge of privacy protection tools, and 51 percent cannot identify misinformation. For Nigeria, where internet connectivity underpins everything from banking to business communication, this awareness deficit carries profound economic implications.
The survey, conducted between late 2024 and mid-2025, shows that online activity is increasingly central to African life. Daily internet use has become the norm across the continent, with mobile devices driving access. Social media has emerged as a primary news source for 32 percent of respondents, a figure that rises sharply among younger demographics. In Nigeria, 74 percent of youth aged 18 to 35 report relying on social media as their main source of news, reflecting a fundamental shift in how information is consumed and shared. This reliance, however, occurs without commensurate understanding of the platforms’ risks or the tools available to mitigate them.
The economic stakes are substantial. Nigeria’s digital economy encompasses everything from fintech transactions worth trillions of naira annually to e-commerce platforms, remote work arrangements, and digital government services. Each of these activities depends on user trust and system integrity. When users lack awareness of phishing attempts, weak password practices, or unsecured networks, they become vulnerabilities through which fraudsters can access financial systems, compromise corporate networks, and undermine confidence in digital platforms.
The cyber threat landscape in Nigeria is already severe. The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) routinely reports thousands of cybersecurity incidents annually, ranging from financial fraud to data breaches affecting corporate and government systems. Individual users unaware of basic protections become entry points for attacks that can cascade through interconnected systems. A compromised personal device used for mobile banking can lead to drained accounts; a successful phishing email can provide attackers credentials to corporate networks.
Joseph Asunka, Afrobarometer’s chief executive officer, framed the findings in terms of opportunity and risk. “While expanding internet access is essential, it must be accompanied by deliberate efforts to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital space safely,” he said. “Without digital literacy, the same connectivity that empowers can also expose users to fraud, misinformation, and privacy violations.”
The misinformation gap is particularly consequential for economic stability. False information circulating on social media can trigger bank runs, disrupt supply chains, and undermine confidence in institutions. During the 2023 currency redesign, for example, misinformation about cash availability and bank policies exacerbated public anxiety and complicated the Central Bank’s implementation. As more Nigerians rely on social media for news, the potential for economically disruptive falsehoods to spread rapidly and unchecked increases.
The privacy protection deficit also carries direct economic costs. Consumers unaware of how their data is collected and used cannot make informed decisions about which digital services to trust. This opacity advantages platforms with poor privacy practices while disadvantaging those that invest in robust protections but cannot effectively communicate their value. For Nigerian startups seeking to build trust-based relationships with users, the lack of general privacy awareness means they must invest in extensive user education alongside product development.
For policymakers, the findings underscore the need to integrate digital literacy into education and public awareness campaigns. The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy envisions a Nigeria where digital skills enable broad participation in the global economy. Achieving this vision requires not only infrastructure and access but also the cognitive tools to use technology safely and effectively. School curricula, adult education programmes, and public information campaigns all have roles in building digital safety awareness.
The private sector also has incentives to act. Banks, telecom operators, and fintech companies bear direct costs from fraud and security incidents traceable to user vulnerabilities. Investing in customer education on secure practices reduces these costs while strengthening customer relationships. Platforms hosting user-generated content face reputational and regulatory risks from misinformation spread; investments in content moderation and user education are essential to maintaining trust.
The generational dimension of the findings offers both concern and opportunity. Young Nigerians are the most active online and the most reliant on social media for news, yet they are also the most receptive to education and the most adaptable to new digital practices. Targeted interventions in schools, universities, and youth-oriented platforms could rapidly improve awareness levels among the cohort that will shape Nigeria’s digital future.
Afrobarometer’s survey provides a baseline against which progress can be measured. The dramatic increase in internet access over the past decade represents a foundational achievement. The next phase of Nigeria’s digital transformation must focus on quality of engagement, ensuring that connectivity empowers rather than exposes, and that the economic potential of the internet is realised without the friction of preventable harm. This requires coordinated action across government, industry, and civil society to close the digital safety awareness gap.
