AN INVESTIGATION  OF SOCIAL MEDIA SPACE IN KENYA AND ITS ROLE IN POLITICAL EDUCATION OF STUDENT IN KENYA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Social media has a substantial impact on the world. Over the years, the evolution of media, transitioning from print to radio, then TV, and now online platforms, has consistently influenced public opinions and perspectives. However, the advent of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has taken this influence to a new level. Some argue that social media now play a pivotal role in shaping the beliefs, outlooks, and behaviors of the majority, who were previously influenced primarily by traditional and mainstream media sources. Presently, the internet and these new media platforms facilitate rapid and widespread communication. A single news item can go from obscurity to reaching 20 million viewers overnight through platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and an array of blogs(Bedford, L.,2019). The viral nature of this highly social and user-driven environment allows complete strangers to connect based on shared beliefs, interests, or desires and collectively influence outcomes.

In essence, social media encompasses online platforms, websites, and applications that empower individuals and groups to generate, share, and interact with digital content in a networked environment. These platforms enable users to establish connections, communicate, and engage with others using various media formats, including text, images, videos, and links  . Furthermore, they serve as a conduit for online communication and social interaction, enabling users to share information, express viewpoints, and establish connections with diverse individuals and organizations across the internet (Bradley, 2019). Notable examples of social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. These developments, combined with the growing penetration of mobile phones, positioned Kenya as a focal point for technological advancement. It comes as no surprise, then, that Kenyans rapidly became the most active users of Facebook in Africa and the fourth most active users of Twitter in the continent within just a few years.

Further more, social media can be expressed as the infrastructure and tools for creating and distributing content with individual value, but that represents shared values; personal messages, news, and ideas become cultural items when converted to digital form, they includes;the individuals, businesses, and industries that create and consume both tools and content (Howard & Parks, 2017). This shows that social media means exchanging content containing individual values that will contribute to cultural products, whereas individuals or organizations that enable new knowledge and values. Also, With the use of social media, users can grow and participate in various communities by sharing, interacting, cooperating, publishing, and managing (Mao, 2017). Social media makes content sharing possible and offers powerful tools that let users connect with one another through news feeds. Besides, the use of social media is focused on politics and the latest news. Aldahdouh et al. (2020) found that students for Higher Education Institution mostly use Facebook and Twitter for personal purposes. However, students’ use of information and communications technology (ICT) was expected to benefit from an increased focus to help them work more thoughtfully than before. Rather, it affected the school regulation governing students’ use of smartphones (Olofsson et al., 2018).

Beyond that, a research conducted by Bedford, (2019) showed that social media could be constructed as an effective tool to promote PLC (Professional Learning Community) entry academics . Furthermore, several research has shown several students’ achievements, such as summative graduation and early departure in students using Facebook (Elaine et al., 2016).  All young people use social media (Eynon & Malmberg, 2017).

Political education is a metric that assesses a citizen’s ability to respond correctly to a series of questions (Boudreau & Lupia, 2021). It is based in part on access to knowledge about governmental decisions, political assignment, and refers to specific information as well as civic and political skills and understanding of global, national, and regional (Molaei, 2017). According to Bathelt (2015), political  education produces politically aware, alert, articulate, and capable people who can assess their acts and interests to defend them in political situations. Additionally, studying  political education in university aids students in gaining a greater understanding of the current events that shape their communities and contribute to more stable and reliable political attitudes. It also assists students in pursuing their own goals and making choices that represent their attitudes and desires, as well as promoting democratic ideals, facilitating confidence in the political system, and motivating political participation (Galston, 2019).

At the same time, political dropouts are citizens who do not have the necessary knowledge and skills to participate meaningfully in politics (Milner, 2020).

Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to investigate social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya.

 1.2 Statement of the Problem

According to Kim et al. (2018), social media differs from previous forms of media in that it leverages social connections to source shared information directly from its original source. Also, social media offers ways to find knowledge through networks of individuals who share your interests. Social connections are crucial for the embedding of information. Similar roles are played by face-to-face social networks (Ellison & Fudenberg, 2015), where reputable sources of information are given more weight. According to Bennet, (2019), political discourse might enhance political education by addressing information acquired from social media. Therefore, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to investigate social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya. Specifically, the study will;

 Find out the level political activities are carried out through the social media.

1.        Find out the extent at which the use of social media has improved students’ political knowledge in Kenya.

2.        Determine the extent social media usage has stimulated political interest of students in Kenya.

3.        Determine whether social media has increased political involvement of students in Kenya.

4.        Determine the whether social media has increased political involvement of students in Kenya.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1.        To what extent are political activities carried out through social media in Kenya?

2.        To what extent has the use of social media enhanced students' political knowledge in Kenya?

3.        How has social media usage affected the level of political interest among students in Kenya?

4.        Has social media contributed to increased political involvement among students in Kenya?

1.5  Significant of the Study

An investigation of social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya will be revealed to the government at various levels, stakeholders involved in education policies, lecturers, school management, media houses and students in this study. It will additionally enlighten students on possible ways to obtain information regarding politics through social media and understand the flow of information in a modern media environment to source political information with full potential.Furthermore, this research will be useful to stakeholders involved in education policies, lecturers and school management incorporating social media as part of the instructional design to promote student–instructor interaction.

Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to an investigation of social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the investigation of social media space in Kenya and its role in political education of student in Kenya. Theoretically, this study will find out the level political activities are carried out through the social media, the extent at which the use of social media has improved students’ political knowledge in Kenya, determine the extent social media usage has stimulated political interest of students in Kenya and determine the whether social media has increased political involvement of students in Kenya.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to students in University of Nairobi, Kenya.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.8 Definition of Terms

Social Media: can be defined as web based services where users can create a public profile, create a list of users they are connected to, and access their own and other users’ list of contacts (Boyd & Ellison, 2017).

Student: a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

Political Education: a form of education that teaches students to take risks, challenge those with power, honor critical traditions, and be reflexive about how authority is used in the classroom.