Television has become a revolutionary force for good in the majority world, according to World Bank development economist Charles Kenny. The data covering numerous countries over an extended period of time suggests that the availability and consumption of television content leads is positively correlated with literacy, school enrolment, health, birth control, reduced drug use, reduced corruption, and increased prosperity.
Given that the Internet is available to less than 3% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa and less than 15% of the population in the developing world, Kenny argues that the positive influence of television is a much greater force for good in the battle against poverty than that of the Internet. From my own observations in East Africa, I would agree that the influence of television is far greater than that of the Internet.
However, the influence of mobile phones is greater still. I have never been able to work out how people who are unable to afford sufficient food are able to afford to use mobile phones. They seem to be almost as ubiquitous in Africa as they are in Australia, and the ability to send inexpensive SMS messages to radio and television stations responsive to programming gives some of the interactivity provided by the Internet.