Authors :
Hassan Mohamed Issa
Volume/Issue :
Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 10 - October
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3N5LVhQ
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7246729
Abstract :
Freedom of expression as among the
fundamental human rights and democratization process
has been a claim of supporters of free market of ideas
under liberal democracy. With the development of new
media technology, the voices of the voiceless have been
given a wide girth and hence enjoying the fruits of new
media which enables them to penetrate from the
normative gate-keeping system. This study has assessed
the uses and impacts of social networking sites and webblogs (blogs) in spearheading open discussions as
reflecting to Public Opinion Theory on matters
pertaining to democratization and freedom of expression
in particular, in Tanzania. Intensive literature review
has been conducted using local and international
publications to support the three-year content analysis
study which used; face book, twitter and instagram –
accounts of social media architects, Zitto Kabwe
Ruyagwa, Maria Sarungi-T’sehai, January Makamba and
Mange Kimambi, all due to their popularity in Tanzanian
democratic arena; blogs; Jamii Forums, Sauti Kubwa,
Issa Michuzi, Swahili Times and Freddy Macha and two
political cartoonists’ accounts – ‘Wakudata’ and
‘Kipanya’ were also surveyed in attempt to understand
the extent of social media uses for democratisation
process in Tanzania. Fair penetration of internet services
has been seen with which has oiled democratization
process in the country – witnessing hot discussions from
people of all social classes. However, the social media
uses and users have gone further allowing unethical
posts and pose a great challenge to the voluntary and
non-voluntary regulatory bodies in the country than ever
before – the efforts which have yet been materialized,
especially in striking the balance between rights to
freedom of expression as among the fundamental pillars
of democracy in one hand and protection of ethics and
national tranquilly which are also a cornerstone for a
civilized nation.
Keywords :
framing, social media, democratization process, netizens, freedom of expression, public opinion.
Freedom of expression as among the
fundamental human rights and democratization process
has been a claim of supporters of free market of ideas
under liberal democracy. With the development of new
media technology, the voices of the voiceless have been
given a wide girth and hence enjoying the fruits of new
media which enables them to penetrate from the
normative gate-keeping system. This study has assessed
the uses and impacts of social networking sites and webblogs (blogs) in spearheading open discussions as
reflecting to Public Opinion Theory on matters
pertaining to democratization and freedom of expression
in particular, in Tanzania. Intensive literature review
has been conducted using local and international
publications to support the three-year content analysis
study which used; face book, twitter and instagram –
accounts of social media architects, Zitto Kabwe
Ruyagwa, Maria Sarungi-T’sehai, January Makamba and
Mange Kimambi, all due to their popularity in Tanzanian
democratic arena; blogs; Jamii Forums, Sauti Kubwa,
Issa Michuzi, Swahili Times and Freddy Macha and two
political cartoonists’ accounts – ‘Wakudata’ and
‘Kipanya’ were also surveyed in attempt to understand
the extent of social media uses for democratisation
process in Tanzania. Fair penetration of internet services
has been seen with which has oiled democratization
process in the country – witnessing hot discussions from
people of all social classes. However, the social media
uses and users have gone further allowing unethical
posts and pose a great challenge to the voluntary and
non-voluntary regulatory bodies in the country than ever
before – the efforts which have yet been materialized,
especially in striking the balance between rights to
freedom of expression as among the fundamental pillars
of democracy in one hand and protection of ethics and
national tranquilly which are also a cornerstone for a
civilized nation.
Keywords :
framing, social media, democratization process, netizens, freedom of expression, public opinion.
