Research Article
The Financial Toll of Social Media Usage: An Investigative Study
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-032-05832-4_13, author={C\^{e}dric Tala Kuat\^{e} and Franklin Tchakount\^{e} and Claude Fachkha and Christine Markarian}, title={The Financial Toll of Social Media Usage: An Investigative Study}, proceedings={Safe, Secure, Ethical, Responsible Technologies and Emerging Applications. Second EAI International Conference, SAFER-TEA 2024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 9--10, 2024, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={SAFER-TEA}, year={2026}, month={11}, keywords={Social media usage data costs digital inequality financial impact Cameroon policy interventions affordable internet access minimum wage}, doi={10.1007/978-3-032-05832-4_13} }- Cédric Tala Kuaté
Franklin Tchakounté
Claude Fachkha
Christine Markarian
Year: 2026
The Financial Toll of Social Media Usage: An Investigative Study
SAFER-TEA
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-05832-4_13
Abstract
With the development of internet technology, social media usage has become increasingly prevalent worldwide, including in developing countries like Cameroon. However, Social media usage has significant financial implications, particularly due to high data costs. This study investigates the financial impact of social media on Cameroonian citizens by analyzing internet costs, usage patterns, and the percentage of income spent on these costs. Using a weighted survey of 91 respondents, we found that the average individual spends approximately 15.8 GB of data per year, costing around 31,602 FCFA, which represents 6% of the annual minimum wage. This expense is particularly burdensome compared to developed countries like France, where the average internet cost represents only 1.66% of the minimum wage. The findings suggest that, despite the benefits of social media, its usage is paradoxically exacerbating financial strain in low-income regions, particularly in Cameroon. These results highlight the need for policy interventions to alleviate the financial burden on low-income households and promote more affordable internet access as a critical component of digital inclusion.