Social Media And Civic Discourse Among Students Of The University Of Ghana

Abstract

In many advanced democracies, the impacts of new media technologies are well documented. Literature on these modern age phenomena provides an understanding of the several dimensions to how these technologies are influencing such societies. The evidences of Internet and social media use, reflected in findings from western societies, show that these new media tools have both positive and negative impacts notably towards facilitating political communication and civic engagements. On the other hand, while access to and uses of the Internet along with its adjunct tools grow in Ghana, academic literature supporting these occurrences are in an emerging phase. As is the case of the western societies, it is necessary to understand the nature of use of the Internet generally and social media in particular since its use is gaining ground in private and corporate spheres. This qualitative study explored social media use among students of the University of Ghana for political communication relying on the Social Capital and Deliberative theories to explain what was found. Findings were reached following observation and interpretation of the posts and interactions gathered from a Facebook group page created by a group of graduate students at the University. The study also gathered secondary data from a previous study, which identified uses of Facebook by students of the University of Ghana. The findings suggest that social media may be fostering civic and political discourses and gives indications that these are possibly occurring because of the bond of friendship created among the participants in the group. Also the findings suggest that the group members, in the few instances of civic discourses occurring, engaged in deliberation. The recommendation for further studies that go beyond exploring what may be happening in online social media groups is encouraged, particularly because such studies will provide deeper knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon.