Social media platforms in sub-Saharan Africa: their role and potential in shaping urban water resilience narratives

PhD studentship available as part of Dr Adrian Healy's Future Leaders Fellowship. Please apply before 31st July.

Building resilience to water crises is recognised as one of the primary challenges facing human society today. The pressures are particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa where rapid rates of urbanization and economic growth - combined with the challenge of climate change and unsustainable water management practices - are creating both slow burn and rapid onset water stress.  In the case of water stressed cities, the relative role of individual actions in framing collective resilience outcomes to water shocks is particularly underexplored. Whilst some writers point to the potential for altruistic and morally-informed outcomes from such collective action, others highlight the risks of vulnerability being transferred between groups or over time.

The role of different media in influencing individual actions is well recognised, but the part played by social media in shaping water supply choices in urban Africa is less understood. Traditionally, community groupings formed spaces for reflection but social media is now leading to the creation of new spaces.

Online platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have been referred to as part of a new public sphere, where individuals and organisations can participate in debate, discussion and other forms of political or civic action. Social media can act as focal points for online discussion of contentious topics and the organising logic of these platforms around ‘trending’ topics and hashtags means that conversations and debates can easily – and rapidly – develop over time. Not all social media platforms are the same and this PhD studentship is offered to undertake a comparative analysis of how water shocks are addressed on various social media platforms across four cities in sub-Saharan Africa.

The full description of the project is now available to download.

To discuss this position, please contact Dr Adrian Healy at: Healya2@cardiff.ac.uk