Digital Literacy and Its Influence on Media Consumption Habits in the Global South

The research analyzes digital literacy effects on Global South media audience behavior through an assessment of digital tools and proficiency levels on platform interactions. The 21st-century media environment underwent a substantial transformation due to digital technology advancements but this change still affects people differently. Countries in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia face unique challenges due to limited technology access, high data costs, and low digital literacy levels. This research centers on Kenya together with India and Brazil as its subject area through which investigators conducted interviews and distributed questionnaires to 600 participants. Observations demonstrate that people with advanced digital competency tend to activate social networking sites (SNS) with internet service and contrastingly inexperienced users depend on conventional media tools such as television and radio. The findings demonstrate how Global South countries need improved digital resources and awareness as a solution to close their digital divide.