Control of the media is concentrated in the hands of political and business elites. The royal family is an influential stakeholder in various media companies, as are a few powerful businessmen.
Although most news and media content is consumed in Arabic, and Morocco’s Arabic dialect, Dariya, is gaining popularity, major business publications are published in French.
Although most domestic broadcasting is controlled by the state, many news organizations are owned by establishment businessmen. Ownership of online media is more diverse, but less transparent.
The large number of media outlets does not mean a free media environment, with most of them following pro-establishment viewpoints. The newspaper sector has long faced declining revenues and readership.
Despite intense pressure from the authorities, a small number of independent and critical media outlets remain active.
Social media usage is rapidly increasing. Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube are the most popular platforms.
While some criticism of government policies and economic conditions is acceptable, the monarchy and Morocco’s policies in Western Sahara are editorial red lines that should not be crossed.
Morocco has one of the highest internet penetration rates in Africa. By September 2024, there were 34.5 million internet users, accounting for 90.7% of the population (Statista.com).
