Question NW2579 to the Minister of Social Development
13 October 2023 - NW2579
Stock, Mr D to ask the Minister of Social Development
How (a) will the DSDTV material be packaged to make it more appealing and accessible to the youth to address socioeconomic challenges affecting them, such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence and (b) interactive will the platform be for the users?
Reply:
(a) Like their global counterparts, South African young people are increasingly using download sites to access video entertainment and social media sites as tools for communication and a source of news and information. Mobile data continues to be the most used means through which South African young people access the internet. Social network platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and twitter have become an integral part of everyday life with over 60% using social media as their primary source of information.
The current audio-visual platform caters to all South Africans, with specific focus on young people. Key features such as video-on-demand, live streaming, podcasts and children’s corner are all targeted at young people.
(b) Yes, the platform is interactive and participatory by enabling users to provide suggestions to ensure meaningful engagement and fresh content.