Social Media as Tools for Development in South Georgia

This book examines the role of social media as tools for development in Georgia, utilising the Uses and Gratification Theory to explore their applications, effectiveness, and limitations. The study focuses on four key objectives; assessing awareness of social media's role in development communication among Georgian populations; identifying major platforms used for disseminating development messages; analyzing prioritized message types, such as education and rural development; and evaluating constraints, including infrastructural gaps and socio-economic disparities. Findings reveal that social media platforms, particularly Facebook, are extensively utilised for development communication, with rural development messages dominating the content landscape. However, education and public health campaigns remain underrepresented. High internet subscription costs and poor connectivity were identified as significant barriers to effective utilisation. Regardless of these challenges, the study highlights the transformative potential of social media in fostering public awareness, participation, and socio-economic transformation.