The impact of Internet use during COVID-19 lockdown in Rwanda: a potential public health threat

Abstract

This article discusses impact of the Internet on the populations of sub-Sahara during the lockdown period in Rwanda. The aim is to eradicate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and devise strategies to minimize the expansion of this virus. The increased misuse of the Internet has challenged the education sector. Initiatives such as broadband Internet to promote free or low-cost digital access have been fully successful. Although the Internet may have discouraged loneliness, it has promoted some risks to vulnerable people. Long-term isolation on the Internet has resulted in endangering younger people by exposing them to pornography, and violent movie films. The Government of Rwanda should address use of Internet during isolation to protect most vulnerable individuals like children and adolescents. The Rwanda Education the Ministry should train “online body guards” to educate the younger population of Rwanda.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• lockdown

Acknowledgments

I thank Dr. Patrick Ujwiga Anguru for language editing that strengthened the grammar and spelling of this paper.

Competing interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Funding statement

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.