With the arrival of the sacred month of Ramadan, the atmosphere in the capital’s cybercafés undergoes a significant transformation. People of all ages flock to these unique spaces to spend a few moments, sometimes even hours. As the month begins, the demand for computer access surges, with young people especially eager to secure a spot.
Hasna, a 22-year-old student, shares her experience: "I've gotten into the habit of coming early to make sure I get a place without too much trouble. The rush started from the first day of Ramadan. Before, I could come whenever I wanted and always find a spot, but now I'm happy to see so many young people."
For many young people, cybercafés become a favorite pastime, especially during this period. Surfing the Internet provides them with a combination of pleasure, knowledge, and tranquility. Although many cybercafés in various neighborhoods of the capital have gone out of business, some entrepreneurs have found ways to keep their businesses alive. They introduced video games, attracting more children and teenagers.
One cybercafé owner in Yacoub El Mansour notes, "At first, I only had a cybercafé. But over time, I realized I couldn’t survive on that alone. I introduced video games eight months ago, and today, I make a decent living. During Ramadan, my earnings increase significantly, with children being my most loyal customers."
Promotions have also become a strategy to attract customers during the holy month. A few cybercafés offer deals that appeal to students and regular patrons. Two French literature students note, "This big cybercafé isn't like the others. It's true that we come from far away to connect here, but the price is negotiable, and the promotion is interesting."
●The Changing Role of Cybercafés
The culture of Internet usage is slowly becoming more ingrained in Moroccan society. However, many young people, who are the main customers of cybercafés, do not always use the Internet wisely, often spending their time chatting or browsing sites that may not be the most educational. Yet, others use the Internet for more constructive purposes, like Youssef, who dreams of finding a job abroad, or Ahmed, who frequents his neighborhood cybercafé after breaking fast to research topics related to his economics studies.
The evening rush to cybercafés during Ramadan creates a unique rhythm, with these establishments opening at 7:30 PM and staying open until 1:00 AM. A young manager at a cybercafé in Al Kamra describes the experience: "It's tiring to stay awake until this late hour and work while paying attention to every customer. The demand is very high, especially at night, but the work rhythm during this month is special."
●Children and the Internet: A Growing Relationship
[ Photo Date : 02/04/2009 ]
Children are increasingly drawn to cybercafés, primarily attracted by the games offered on various websites. Some cybercafé managers have quickly realized that children represent a unique category of customers and have taken steps to accommodate them. Special areas are set aside for children to keep them from disturbing the adult clientele, who often find the noise distracting.
A cybercafé owner shares, "My most loyal customers are mainly children who come here regularly to play games and listen to music. But I've reserved a special area for them." This trend is seen as a positive sign, as it suggests that the culture of the Internet is taking root among the younger generation, encouraged by parents who push their children to visit these spaces, especially on weekends.
●The Rise of Luxury Cybercafés
While many cybercafés have closed down due to a lack of customers, others have taken a different approach by introducing luxury and innovation. A newly opened cybercafé on Boulevard Zerktouni, for instance, has attracted a large clientele with its modern amenities, including 360 computers with flat screens. The investment has paid off, drawing visitors from all over the city.
A young woman who frequents the cybercafé comments, "I was really surprised by all the luxury. This cybercafé is completely different from the others, and I always come here." However, some more tech-savvy customers are less impressed, noting that the computers, despite their sleek appearance, are cloned and not branded.
●The Decline of Cybercafés in the Face of New Technologies
With the advent of mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, the need to visit a cybercafé has diminished significantly. The ease of accessing Wi-Fi at home and the proliferation of unlimited data plans have democratized the Internet, much to the delight of the younger generation.
Khalid, a cybercafé manager near the Medina, reflects on the situation: "You can see for yourself, everything is practically at a standstill. Clients don't come as they used to. In the beginning, all eight machines were running, but now only three are working."
Younouss Mandiang, a casual visitor, echoes this sentiment: "I only stop by occasionally. I was walking by and needed to send a quick email, which is why I came in. With the rise of laptops and smartphones, cybercafés, print media, and even cinemas are at risk of disappearing. In my opinion, these sectors don't have a promising future."
Faced with this reality, Khalid plans to close his cybercafé in two months. The decline in business has been stark, and his decision reflects the broader trend affecting many cybercafé owners across Morocco.
●Adapting to Survive
Some cybercafé owners are adapting to the changing landscape by diversifying their services. For instance, Mohamed El Fekkah, who runs a print shop and cybercafé near the Place des Nations Unies, has managed to weather the crisis better than others by offering additional services like photocopying and phone recharges.
"We still receive clients, but they only connect for 10 to 15 minutes, just to download a document or perform a quick task," he explains. For him, the cybercafé is secondary, a tool for retrieving files from the Internet for printing purposes.
●The Future of Cybercafés: Innovation or Obsolescence?
As the internet becomes more accessible through mobile devices and home connections, the role of cybercafés continues to diminish. However, some believe that innovation could be the key to survival. Younouss Mandiang suggests that cybercafé owners could move to more remote areas or explore new concepts like tablet cafés or cultural cafés.
Some have already started to implement these ideas, offering tablets instead of traditional computers for internet access. This approach, tested by companies like Google in popular neighborhoods in Dakar, Senegal, could serve as inspiration for cybercafé owners struggling with the ongoing "cyber-crisis."
In conclusion, while cybercafés in Morocco face significant challenges, those willing to innovate and adapt may still find ways to survive in this rapidly changing digital landscape. The evolution of technology continues to reshape how people access the internet, pushing traditional cybercafés to either evolve or risk becoming obsolete.
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