Cliquez ici pour lire en français
For International Day of Peace, TechGriot unpacks how algorithms and virality fuel tribalism and misinformation in Cameroon. Then, some nostalgia: from living-room walls to Pinterest, and the days when Facebook still felt like discovery. In Yaoundé, two suspects were arrested over fake travel sites that allegedly netted more than 50 million FCFA. SSD or HDD? We settle it. Across the continent: Starlink suspended in Senegal, e-signatures in Burkina Faso, Mauritania eyeing a social media age limit, Kenya wiring its schools. And the Beats 360 gets swappable cushions.
Tribalism, buzz, rumors: the platform mechanics straining peace in Cameroon 🇨🇲🕊
To mark the International Day of Peace, TechGriot examines how recommendation algorithms, virality and the lack of fact-checking tools are fuelling tribalism, toxic online buzz and defamation on Cameroonian social media. Click here for full story
From salon walls to your phone: how Pinterest replaced the hairstyle catalog 📱🇨🇲
In Cameroon, the way people look for inspiration has changed with the advent of the internet and smartphones. The photos that used to be hung in living rooms or cut out of magazines have now been replaced by digital catalogues on Pinterest, where anyone can find and save ideas for hairstyles, fashion or interior design. Click here for full story
Friend requests, pokes and profile pics: Facebook’s first years for Cameroon’s online generation 📱🇨🇲
From internet cafés to smartphones, Facebook has accompanied a generation of Cameroonians as they first discovered social media. Photos, ‘pokes’, friend requests, groups and comments marked an era when the internet still held the thrill of discovery. Click here for full story
Cameroon: fake travel sites, a phone call and 50 million CFA francs gone 🇨🇲🔐
SSD vs HDD in 2026: speed for your system, capacity for your archives 💾
Ultra-fast but expensive SSDs, and economical but mechanically fragile HDDs: TechGriot analyses the strengths and weaknesses of these two storage technologies, converting prices into CFA francs, to help Cameroonian users make the right choice. Click here for full story
Senegal’s top court suspends Starlink’s license after Sonatel challenge 🇸🇳 🛰️
On 7 September, the Senegalese Supreme Court suspended Starlink’s licence following an appeal by Sonatel, which alleges a distortion of competition. This is a provisional decision; the merits of the case are yet to be decided. Click here for full story
Burkina Faso launches electronic signatures for public administration 🖋️ 🇧🇫
On 15 September, Burkina Faso introduced electronic signatures within its public administration, secured by a PKI infrastructure. The aim is to support the move towards digitalisation (95 procedures are already online) and to achieve a ‘paperless’ system by 2030. Click here for full story
Mauritania wants to switch off social media algorithms for minors 🇲🇷📱
Mauritania wants to introduce a minimum age of 16 for access to social media and restrict certain features for minors. This initiative is part of a trend seen in several African countries, which are stepping up the protection of children in the digital environment. Click here for full story
Kenya’s phase II digital literacy rollout reaches Nairobi, with 91 of 98 schools set up 💻🇰🇪
Beats 360 : A sweat-proof headphone built for the gym and the commute 🎧
Beats is launching the 360, a pair of Bluetooth headphones designed for everyday use and sport. The ear cushions and headband padding are interchangeable. They feature noise cancellation, spatial audio, a battery life of up to 32 hours and are available in four colours. Click here for full story
To receive our daily news on WhatsApp, subscribe to our channel by clicking here.
That’s it for this week. We wish you a good weekend and look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
TechGriot ✌🏾😁
