The Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA) today highlighted the impactful contribution of its Deputy Chair and Vice-Chair East Africa, Ms. Rachael Shitanda, during a high-level virtual X-Space dialogue hosted by Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under its Citizen Support Mechanism (CSM).
Titled “Scrolling into Danger? Youth, Social Media and Extremist Content,” the session convened technologists, civil society leaders, policymakers, and young voices to explore how violent extremist groups exploit digital platforms and how youth can be equipped to recognize, resist, and counter such narratives.
With over 70% of Kenya’s population under the age of 35, and social media platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube deeply embedded in daily life, the discussion underscored the urgent need for proactive, youth-inclusive solutions to online radicalization.
Ms. Shitanda who is also the Chief of Products and Technology at UpraiseCX challenged the prevailing reliance on reactive content moderation, urging a shift toward prevention rooted in digital literacy, inclusion, and trust. “Technology evolves faster than regulation, and algorithms prioritize attention over truth,” she said. “But young people aren’t falling behind; they’re already living in these digital ecosystems. Our strategies must meet them there.”
Drawing on her experience in tech innovation and digital governance, Ms. Shitanda emphasized that radicalization often begins long before violence manifests: “It starts quietly, with isolation, unanswered questions, and curated content that distorts reality. By the time it becomes visible, intervention is far more difficult.”
She called for a reimagined approach: “Removing harmful content is necessary, but not enough. Prevention begins with empowering individuals to make conscious choices of what to engage with, what to share, and when to pause. These everyday decisions shape algorithms, narratives, and ultimately, real-world outcomes.”
The purpose was to:
1. Expose tactics used by extremist groups to recruit youth online
2. Promote critical digital literacy and responsible engagement
3. Foster open conversations about online safety without compromising free expression
4. Strengthen collaboration among government, civil society, and youth influencers
In closing, Ms. Shitanda reaffirmed the central role of young people as partners, not problems, in securing digital spaces: “Extremism loses its grip when young people are informed, heard, and empowered. Building safer online ecosystems requires more than smarter platforms or stricter laws; it demands investment in people as co-creators of a resilient digital future.”
AfICTA remains committed to advancing inclusive digital governance, ethical technology use, and policies that position Africa’s youth at the forefront of shaping safe, open, and equitable digital spaces across the continent.
