Social media and social inclusion among adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe: A study of adolescents from Mutapa High Density Suburb in Gweru

This study explored the socially inclusive benefits of social media amongst adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe’s Mutapa high-density area of Gweru. The increased use of social media necessitated by COVID-19 lockdowns amongst adolescents has made it central to the social inclusion discourse. With the pronouncement of a national lockdown at the end of March 2020, which restricted physical interaction, social media has become a channel that kept groups of people closer together. The social development theory of social change informed the research. The research utilised the qualitative research method. The data collection methods included in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. The research results showed that social media was central to social inclusion for adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe. The following were key social inclusion major themes brought forth: improved access to resources, social support and social integration. However, the research also noted that social media can be a channel for social exclusion, owing to a lack of universal access due to connectivity challenges and abuse. The chapter recommends use of social media platforms to breach the learning gaps between adolescents from various backgrounds through universal internet access, due to threats posed to social inclusion by social media there is need to create social media safe spaces where adolescents are guided and informed of the challenges that they may face and development of competent social media platforms in Zimbabwe that are child and adolescent centred to enhance their protection.