Young people in Swaziland are turning to social media sites such as Facebook because it allows them to enjoy 'the fundamental rights to freedom of expression' that is denied to them elsewhere in the kingdom, a research report has found.
They also bypass mainstream media such as television, radio and newspapers in favour of social media, the report jointly published by the Media Institute of Southern Africa and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said.
In Swaziland media are heavy censored, with nearly all broadcast media under direct state control and one of only two daily newspaper groups is in effect owned by King Mswati III, who rules the kingdom as sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch.
The report called Youth Usage of Social media in Swaziland concluded, 'The young people have welcomed the emergence of the social media because, among others, it affords them an opportunity not only to inter-act but also enjoy the fundamental right to freedom of expression provided in Section 24 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland adopted in 2005.
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