Abstract:

Social media are currently often regarded as either a bane or boon to mass communication processes in today’s society. Recent updates in the popular social media formats of Facebook and MySpace have contributed to a rapidly advancing and transformative social learning frontier. A study of social media use to problem-solve and grow media literacy among American Indians associated with the Pine Ridge Reservation is important in an era of concern about the improper use of these advancing and diversifying Web 2.0 communication technologies. Residents and associates of the Pine Ridge Reservation in rural Southwestern South Dakota in the United States have recently used social media to communicate, organize, and take action around many issues, including the development of the traditional Peace-Making Court, an alternative to Westernized law. A review of social media use and its empowering problem-solving capacities includes consideration of the gaining of improved opportunities to create and develop initiatives, and learn together, breaking down distance and time barriers. This inquiry was guided by an integrated conceptual approach of uses and gratifications theories that indicate how access to media tools may enable marginalized populations to advance important causes for the benefit of individuals, the community, and society at large.

Keywords:

Social Media, Problem-Solving, Media Literacy.