From Entertainment to Empowerment: A Call for Social Media Literacy Education at an HBCU

Authors

Kim Smith, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityFollow
Jeanette W. Wade, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Joseph Jowers, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 9-20-2023

Abstract

An analysis of 640 posts from the social media platforms of 14 students at a historically Black university revealed that entertainment accounted for 68% of their social media content, “uplift” 17%, and empowerment 14%. Educators worry that students may be squandering online resources that could help improve their lives when they choose entertainment over uplift and empowerment. The study examines why entertainment trumps uplift and empowerment, and more broadly, how it may serve as a catalyst to combat disinformation.

Recommended Citation

Smith, K., Wade, J., & Jowers, J. (2023). From Entertainment to Empowerment: A Call for Social Media Literacy Education at an HBCU. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 78(4), 419-439. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958231189360 (Original work published 2023)

Publication Title

Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

Publisher

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication