COM3704
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Title: The Role of New Media in Development and Cybercrime: A South African
Perspective
Introduction
The expansion of new media technologies has transformed societies across the global
South, offering novel opportunities for development, education, political participation,
and cultural revival. Simultaneously, this digital revolution has created new threats in the
form of cybercrime. In South Africa, these dual forces are shaping the nation’s
development path and governance models. This assignment critically discusses how
new media contributes to national development initiatives such as poverty reduction,
literacy, political engagement, and employment. It also explores how new media
platforms are used to preserve and promote African indigenous epistemologies.
Furthermore, it investigates the phenomenon of cybercrime, its types and effects on
society, and evaluates the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) as South
Africa’s legislative response to data governance challenges.
New Media and Development in the Global South
New media includes digital platforms like social media, mobile applications, blogs,
podcasts, and websites. In the global South, these technologies are not only reshaping
communication but also enabling economic growth, civic engagement, and access to
essential services (Fourie, 2021).
Poverty Alleviation and Economic Inclusion
Digital platforms support informal economies and small-scale entrepreneurship. Mobile
money services such as M-Pesa in Kenya provide financial services to the unbanked,
fostering economic inclusion (UNISA, 2025). Similarly, platforms like Facebook
Marketplace or WhatsApp facilitate informal trade, while YouTube and TikTok offer
income-generating opportunities for creators.
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Title: The Role of New Media in Development and Cybercrime: A South African
Perspective
Introduction
The expansion of new media technologies has transformed societies across the global
South, offering novel opportunities for development, education, political participation,
and cultural revival. Simultaneously, this digital revolution has created new threats in the
form of cybercrime. In South Africa, these dual forces are shaping the nation’s
development path and governance models. This assignment critically discusses how
new media contributes to national development initiatives such as poverty reduction,
literacy, political engagement, and employment. It also explores how new media
platforms are used to preserve and promote African indigenous epistemologies.
Furthermore, it investigates the phenomenon of cybercrime, its types and effects on
society, and evaluates the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) as South
Africa’s legislative response to data governance challenges.
New Media and Development in the Global South
New media includes digital platforms like social media, mobile applications, blogs,
podcasts, and websites. In the global South, these technologies are not only reshaping
communication but also enabling economic growth, civic engagement, and access to
essential services (Fourie, 2021).
Poverty Alleviation and Economic Inclusion
Digital platforms support informal economies and small-scale entrepreneurship. Mobile
money services such as M-Pesa in Kenya provide financial services to the unbanked,
fostering economic inclusion (UNISA, 2025). Similarly, platforms like Facebook
Marketplace or WhatsApp facilitate informal trade, while YouTube and TikTok offer
income-generating opportunities for creators.
