Abstract
“Shiri Yamhanya Nerekeni” (Has the bird escaped with the trap) explores the complex interplay between digital media use, cultural preservation, the desire to earn incentives vs ethical responsibility in the context of indigenous language content sharing on social media. The study investigates whether the increased visibility of Zimbabwean indigenous language content on social media platforms like Facebook represents true linguistic and cultural empowerment (Has the bird escaped from its trap?) or is it a paradoxical form of cultural freedom (Has the bird stolen the trap?). Though social media offers unprecedented opportunities to revitalise indigenous languages and cultures, unchecked digital misuse, low social media literacy, and the desire to eke out a living through creator incentives may inadvertently distort and undermine progressive efforts. The study proposes an ethical digital content creation framework, balancing innovation with accountability to preserve the socio-cultural integrity of Zimbabweans online.
Presenters
Memory MabikaSenior Lecturer, English, Media Studies and Linguistics Department, University of Venda, Limpopo, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Culture Commodification, Digital Misuse, Indigenous Media Ethics, Linguistic Preservation
