ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the case of South Sudan to discuss what opportunities digital media literacy may offer to curb the misuse and abuse of social media in conflicts. It addresses the ongoing violence in South Sudan by focusing on practical examples with the aim of advancing the scholarly debate on the role of digital media literacy in conflicts. The chapter considers the case of digital media literacy in South Sudan as a litmus test specifically in this context of state-building and peacebuilding, where digital media are seen on the one hand as a factor in exacerbating the conflict, while at the same time providing an opportunity to overcome conflict by harnessing the powerful community development benefits of social media communication skills. It discusses a number of concrete strategies and practical examples on how to implement digital media literacy projects even in a difficult political and socio-cultural context like South Sudan.