#Palaver Platforms: An Ubuntu Initiative for National Unity and Social Media

Abstract

Social media platforms are not politically neutral tools. For that reason this paper studies the polarizing influence of social media on national unity in Africa. From the social constructivist perspective it examines the conflictual interactions via social media between social movements, state and tech giants. Their polarization prompts a reflection on the validity of the non-dominating concepts of the African-rooted Ubuntu philosophy. The Ubuntu concept of consensus is presented as an addition to the perspectives of the Beijing consensus, Washington consensus and Bandung consensus. The author argues that Ubuntu philosophical orientations reclaim via social media the communal dimensions of serving cohesion within the domains of economy, technology, politics and culture. In the end, the author argues for Palaver Platforms as the alternative dialogue for social media promoting social cohesion.