Play on Twitter During Health Crisis in Non-Democratic Context. Gratification or Dissent?

Abstract

There is scholarly debate on whether digital political participation influence decision-making or merely make citizens feelgood. Using digital public sphere theory and play, this article explores political participation on Twitter during the COVID-19pandemic in Zimbabwe. The study applies a qualitative content analysis on tweets as it answers questions: does perspectiveby media users in a health crisis exert political change and in what way does play on digital spheres induce participation forgratification purposes? The findings of the study reflect the use of conspiratorial satire, hyperbole, and propaganda in theCOVID-19 pandemic as media users laugh at poor health infrastructure, corruption and authoritarianism. We argue thatnetizens’ political participation on social media is somehow overrated for it has not generated meaningful change in non-democratic context but gives the media user, a sense of gratification for scoffing at the ruling regime