Social media technology and the deepening of participatory democracy: A case study of Langa, Cape Town

Abstract

The study investigates whether residents in informal settlements in Cape Town use social media technology to deepen democracy. It explores the use social media platforms by both the residents of Langa and the City of Cape Town to promote participatory democracy. The literature review, drawing on international examples, reveals that social media technology holds the potential to deepen participatory democracy (Bratton & Gyimah-Boadi, 2005). This thesis demonstrates how the residents of Langa use social media technology in their daily lives and how the City engages with this technology.