Social media algorithms, designed for global targets, disproportionately affect Africa, Gilead Okolonkwo, founder of MYNGUL, the first pan-African social media network, told Sputnik Africa, noting that Africans are often shadow-banned, facing restrictions not applied elsewhere.
Okolonkwo stated that African content creation is booming due to the economic climate. MYNGUL's unique selling point is immediate, pressure-free monetization, he said, stressing that this allows creators to prioritize quality content over chasing engagement metrics, a common problem on other platforms.
The founder explained that creators often sacrifice genuine engagement to achieve monetization. MYNGUL aims to shift the focus from superficial metrics to authentic interaction. Highlighting the challenges faced by African creators, he noted they often face restrictions and are denied tools and services based on their location.
Okolonkwo said that African creators also face specific, challenging privacy policy requirements when launching on some platforms. Despite these hurdles, he expressed MYNGUL's commitment and success in overcoming them.
African heritage is about valuing things, Okolonkwo stated, noting that MYNGUL embraces African morality and cultural heritage, uniting diverse African nationalities. Its policies reflect these values, providing a platform for Africans to authentically express their voices and promote their culture, he noted.
Okolonkwo sees social media as the central hub of modern life, influencing daily routines. He noted that AI uses it to analyze user patterns and drive product development. MYNGUL, he added, will leverage its data to provide an African voice.
"It is going to enable Africa to stand out, which means products that are Afrocentric would be born, which means that we can now better understand the African culture, the African people, and the African lifestyle. This is exactly what social media is going to do," Okolonkwo said.
Okolonkwo stated that MYNGUL aims to cultivate authentic content and creators by removing restrictions, envisioning a platform where individuals promote originality, Pan-Africanism, culture, and values. He believes that over time, organizations will recognize MYNGUL as a valuable resource and a testament to African-led freedom.