Facebook Usage as a Community Engagement Tool by Residents in the Sauyemwa Location, Kavango East Region, During COVID-19 Lockdown

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Leevi.pdf
Published: Nov 27, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59677/njlc.v16i2.41
Keywords:
mobile computing, smartphones, digital divide, innovation, gamification, digital communication, COVID-19, community engagement, Facebook

Main Article Content

Sadrag Panduleni Shihomeka
University of Namibia
Peter Ihalo Leevi
University of Namibia

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to investigate and explore how residents in Kavango east used Facebook as a community engagement tool during the pandemic in Kavango East region, being the region with the lowest percentage of people with access to cellphones and internet. The study also aimed at assisting different communities to create new alternative ways on how to engage with each other using social media platforms like Facebook during the pandemic. The author used a qualitative method to randomly select 10 participants (8 males and 2 females) that were interviewed using a semi-structures interview. The findings reveal that, Sauyemwa residents used Facebook to communicate with others, to share and receive trending information around the world. Moreover, residents used Facebook Messenger for commenting on posts, liking and possibly sharing, to stream and share live videos and events. This study suggests that, Sauyemwa residents should use Facebook as an alternative mode of communication during the pandemic as it allows people to connect remotely.

Article Details

How to Cite
Shihomeka, S. P., & Leevi, P. I. (2023). Facebook Usage as a Community Engagement Tool by Residents in the Sauyemwa Location, Kavango East Region, During COVID-19 Lockdown. Namibian Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Communication Studies, 16(2), 6–19. https://doi.org/10.59677/njlc.v16i2.41
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2022): NAWA Journal of Language and Communication
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Sadrag Panduleni Shihomeka, University of Namibia

Dr Sadrag Panduleni Shihomeka is a media and communication practitioner, specialised in social media and youth politics. He presented, and published in digital human rights, and gender studies, as well as conferences, projects and seminars associated with e-Mourning and Post-death Digital Presence, online violence, e-ethics and marginalisation of women online areas. Dr Shihomeka serves as an external moderator and theses examiner for Journalism and Media Technology at various institutions. He holds a PhD in Media and Communication from Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, MBA, and a B. Ed (Secondary). Currently, he is the Head of the Department for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning and a Senior Lecturer for Educational Media and Technologies at the University of Namibia. As an ICT4D researcher, Dr Shihomeka, collaborated with several NGOs, Universities, and Institutions to promote digital literacy, digital romance, e-democracy, e-addiction, e-deception, and cyberbullying to empower citizens with digital skills.

Peter Ihalo Leevi, University of Namibia

Mr. Peter Ihalo Leevi is a Bachelor of Education in Lifelong Learning and Community Education Graduate from the Department of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, School of Education, Faculty of Education and Human Sciences, University of Namibia. Currently, Mr Leevi is busy with his Master of Education in Adult Education researching Digital Detoxing as A Tool to Mitigate The Impact Of Social Media Usage On Young Peoples’ Digital Lifestyles In Kavango East Region, Rundu in the same department.

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