PHD-Department of Theatre Arts and Film Technology

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Browsing PHD-Department of Theatre Arts and Film Technology by Subject "Nairobi City County"

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    Exploring Role of Media Convergence in Intrusion of Privacy: Experiences of Regular Internet Users in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2021) Nancy Wanjiru, Kungu; George Ngugi King’ara; John Mugubi
    Media convergence has triggered unlimited production and consumption of the Internet content by embracing novel smart devices and interactive tools that permit users, including audiences, to create and to share massive information on the cyberspaces; hence, raising unprecedented online privacy concerns. This study therefore explored role of media convergence in intrusion of online privacy based on the experiences of regular Internet users in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The theoretical framework adopted in the study comprised the Theory of Media Convergence by Henry Jenkins and the Privacy Theory of James Moor. The study used four FGDs drawn from four selected universities in Nairobi City County and eight key expert interviewees from government organizations related to communication. FGD discussion and Interview guides were used in data collection. Data was analyzed qualitatively based on related thematic concepts. Findings depicted a proliferation of unrestricted user-generated information where online players, who are not journalists, were constantly creating and distributing information of private nature, news of shock, acts of violence, crime, sexual assault, and messages of bereavement and grief. Infringement issues isolated by the key expert respondents included harvesting of personal data, disclosure of information, data breach, identity theft, impersonation, and fake news. Susceptibility of social sites to cyber-attacks, the proliferation of unregulated social sites, user vulnerability, Internet tracking tools, Internet penetration, searchability, and online anonymity were deemed to challenge regulation of the IP. The study concluded that: Internet users were divulging vast amounts of private information on the IP; privacy violations were being witnessed and; an array of mitigation strategies was adopted including legislation and policy-making, enforcement of compliance, incidents response, capacity building, consumer education and outreach programmes. The study made the following recommendations: media regulation and policy-making to continually focus on reviewing of cyber regulatory environment; to consider making a law that would, primarily, focus on online privacy; to explore the possibility of collaborations among nations in dealing with Internet violations; to encourage data minimization and; to consider extending consumer outreach programmes to university students. Recommendations made for further research include: investigating implications of privacy infringements on the cyberspaces and; exploring user-awareness of cyber privacy risks.
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    Online Group Interaction and the Development of Virtual Identity among the Youth in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2021) Omukoba, Deckillah Shitandi; George N. King’ara; Tommy Kiilu
    The internet has taken the new role of community through online groups where youth congregate to interact, exchange ideas and pursue interests. As they engage in self-expression and self-presentation online, it is important to understand how virtual identity is negotiated and formed in those spaces. This research analyzed online group interaction and the development of virtual identity among the youth in Nairobi County. The objectives guiding the study were: 1) To establish the extent to which the youth are part of online groups. 2) To establish the reasons that influence the youth to join online groups. 3) To determine the extent to which online group membership develops the virtual identity of the youth. The independent variable in the study is online group interaction while the dependent variable is virtual identity development. Review of literature in this research is based on various aspects of online group interaction in relation to its potentiality in forming the virtual identity of group members. The communication theory of identity (CTI) and uses and gratification theory (U&G) were adopted to form the theoretical framework for this research. The study employed a mixed method research design in which the main methods used in data collection included; Self-administered questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and In-depth interviews. This study comprised four focus group discussions of ten members each sampled from two Universities in Nairobi County, a young professionals group in Kasarani sub-county and a youth support group in Mwiki Nairobi, County. Eight social media experts were interviewed. A cross-sectional survey targeting the youth was conducted in two Universities in Nairobi in which 384 questionnaires were administered to the targeted respondents. The data collected was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively based on the themes derived from the objectives of this study. Quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS software, while the qualitative data was analyzed using the NVIVO software. The three-dimensional identity model by Crocetti, Rubini, & Meeus, (2008) was also used to analyze objective three of this study. Findings revealed that the independent variable of online interaction influenced the performance of users online leading to the development of a virtual identity that they are associated with. Equally the reasons for interaction online such as bonding and bridging influence the kind of self-expressions that the users exhibit online thus characterizing their virtual identity. The study concluded that because the youth are engaging online, they are performing ever-changing identities. There is therefore a need for them to be guided for positive outcomes. Equally the study made the following recommendations, firstly, online group interactions could be used positively as a platform for social interaction and change. Secondly, more online groups that address youth related matters should be created as a way of addressing this transitional stage in life. The study suggested further research in rural context and the adult segment.