Young people in Swaziland are turning to social media
sites such as Facebook because it allows them to enjoy ‘the fundamental rights
to freedom of expression’ that is denied to them elsewhere in the kingdom, a research
report has found.
They also bypass mainstream media such as television,
radio and newspapers in favour of social media, the
report jointly published by the Media Institute of Southern Africa and the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said.
In Swaziland media are
heavy censored, with nearly all broadcast media under direct state control and
one of only two daily newspaper groups is in effect owned by King Mswati III,
who rules the kingdom as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
The report called Youth Usage of Social
media in Swaziland concluded, ‘The young people have welcomed the
emergence of the social media because, among others, it affords them an
opportunity not only to inter-act but also enjoy the fundamental right to
freedom of expression provided in Section 24 of the Constitution of the Kingdom
of Swaziland adopted in 2005.
‘Much
to the delight of the young social media users, the social
media has changed the face of the media landscape by making information
sharing ‘easier, faster and quicker.
‘They
can now easily and freely bypass the severely censored mainstream
media to access, produce, distribute and exchange information
and ideas.
‘More
importantly, the social media has afforded the young people an opportunity
to speak in their own voices, not mediated by the mainstream media.’
It added, ‘They can use this empowering force as a source of information
relevant to their social lives. It has become their reliable source of educational,
social, political, economic and cultural information.’
The research surveyed 100 people aged between 10 and 24
years old in all four regions of Swaziland. It found the most popular social
media sites were Facebook, Whatsapp and Mxit.
The report also said many young people were concerned
about ‘immorality’,
including ‘the posting
of pornographic materials, vulgar language, seditious information and
character assassination’.
See also
SOCIAL MEDIA FIRST WITH THE NEWS
SOCIAL MEDIA SITES PROMOTE FREEDOM
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