Capturing and Conveying Chamorro Cultural Knowledge Using Social Media

Abstract

The Chamorro people have a long history and rich cultural traditions that have survived the affects of colonization and loss of political control. However, these traditions are in danger of being lost if they are not passed from one generation to the next. The purpose of this study is to understand if information and communication technologies, specifically social media, are used to capture and convey Chamorro cultural knowledge. Two data collection methods were used to understand the type(s) of Chamorro cultural knowledge that is valued, and what social media is used by the Chamorro people today to capture and convey cultural knowledge. The results indicate that the Chamorro people today share the core Chamorro cultural values, and do use information and communication technologies, including social media to capture and convey Chamorro cultural knowledge.

An Instagram-Based Study to Understand Betel Nut Use Culture in Micronesia: Exploratory Content Analysis

“…In the exploration of #pugua, there were depictions of Chamorro culture such as dance, art, and festivals without the display of betel nut in the Instagram content. As prior work has demonstrated that Chamorros use social media to learn, capture, and preserve their culture [ 59 ], public health interventions should carefully consider how their visual messages link betel nut content on Instagram to Chamorro cultural identification.…”

“…Finally, the NHPI population faces challenges in maintaining their unique languages and cultures. Previous research has shown that Pacific Islander communities value social media as a way to preserve culture and indigenous knowledge [ 58 , 59 ]. Betel nut use is closely tied to culture in Guam [ 47 , 51 , 60 , 61 ] and throughout the USAPI [ 62 , 63 ].…”