The majority of information disseminated online has been related to the coup, and much of this has come from citizen journalists. “After the coup, there was a huge, huge turn to the use of citizen journalists – people of all different professions who have information that they can then feed into the media. That was a trend that happened in 2007 during the Saffron revolution, and in 2008 during (cyclone) Nargis. Now their importance is exponential, we need many eyes on the ground – not just journalists but also documentation of human rights abuses” (KII_04). With the crackdown on independent journalism, the blacklisting of popular social media platforms and internet shutdowns, there has been a big uptake of the responsibility to report by young activists, journalists, and students. During blackouts, relevant information was disseminated through telegram channels, mass messaging and newsletters available for print. Political newsletters like Towards, Molotov and The Voice of Spring were published by student activists and journalists around March 2021 and gained huge popularity among youth across the country. Despite the heightened risks journalists have continued to report; “From the perspective of the journalists, when we get information, we need to publish that information for the awareness of the general public, regardless of whether it might ‘harm’ the authorities or government, if the information is correct, we should be able to publish it.” (FGD_04) (Female). Public demand for information about the coup has increased, and the media outlets that have continued to provide it have garnered greater attention and respect. While collecting and 30 verifying information has become more difficult because journalists cannot easily travel and have no access to official responses from the state, existing networks and the vast number of sources online have filled this gap and enabled journalists to continue their work (Freedom House, 2021). “Post-coup, journalists again became heroes, people also realized how much they need information and how important good journalism is.” (KII_04) 4.3.3 Fake News & Propaganda There appears to now be a much savvier appreciation of what propaganda looks like among the general population. This is mainly because Gen Z grew up in a world with social media and access to internet-enabled mobile phones. Gen Z is better educated and equipped with modern day technology. They are globally connected. “Online deconstruction of rhetoric that is happening now that was never a part of anything before, it was technically possible, but it is also now a reflection of a learning curve. GENZ grew up with independent media and has clever systems to identify, report and verify fake news” (KII_04) 4.3.4 (#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar) In the early hours of February 2nd, word of the military coup began circulating online. Once it was confirmed that a military coup had indeed occurred, a flurry of messages and social media posts debating the next 72 hours were sent out into the web; namely, a debate on whether it was essential to act in the first 72 hours in order to make clear that there was no public support for this move – or – to wait it out, as Figure 6: Still image from footage documenting creative protest in Myanmar, shared on Latt Thone Chaung social media platforms