Previous 32 / 137 Next

Mobile Myanmar: The Impact of Social Media on Young People Living in Conflict-Affected Regions of Myanmar Table 2: Demographic profile of Key Informant Interviews Location Gender Age Ethnicity Religion Education Occupation Kayah State urban 1 Loikaw Female 18 Kayan Christian Grade 11 Student 2 Loikaw Female 25 Kayan Christian Grade 10 Volunteer 3 Loikaw Female 30 Kayan Christian Grade 10 Volunteer 4 Loikaw Female 35 Kayan Christian Grade 10 Trainer 5 Loikaw Female 36 Kayan Christian Graduated university Activist 6 Loikaw Male 34 Kayan Christian Grade 11 Kayan National Party Chairperson 7 Loikaw Male 20 Kayan Christian Grade 9 Student 8 Loikaw Male 20 Shan Buddhist Grade 10 Unemployed Kayah State rural 9 Ve Thae Ku Female 32 Kayah Buddhist Grade 10 Farmer 10 Ve Thae Ku Male 22 Kayah Buddhist Grade 8 Farmer 11 Ve Thae Ku Male 31 Kayah Buddhist Grade 10 Farmer 12 Lo Bar Kho Village Male 27 Kayan Christian Vocational Electro-Technician 13 Lo Bar Kho Village Male 34 Kayan Christian Grade 9 Farmer 14 Kyun Taw Village Male 24 Kayah Christian Grade 10 Farmer 15 Kyun Taw Village Female 19 Kayan Christian Grade 9 Farmer 16 Kyun Taw Village Female 20 Kayan Christian [Missing] Farmer 17 Htee Te Kaloe & Daw Lyar Ku Villages Female 22 Kayah Christian Grade 10 Student 18 Htee Te Kaloe & Daw Lyar Ku Villages Male 24 Kayah Christian Grade 10 Farmer 19 Htee Te Kaloe & Daw Lyar Ku Villages Male 35 Kayah Buddhist Grade 5 Village Administrator Rakhine State urban 20 Sittwe Female 19 Chin Christian [Missing] Field Assistant 21 Sittwe Female 22 Rakhine Buddhist Graduated university Field Assistant 22 Sittwe Female 27 Rakhine Buddhist Graduated university Unemployed 23 Sittwe Male 19 Rakhine Buddhist 1st year university Student 32

Select target paragraph3

● ● ●

Mobile Myanmar: The impact of social media on young people in conflict-affected regions of Myanmar

Report

Preview

Language

English

Topic

Hate Speech
Internet Connectivity / Accessibility

Author(s)

Save the Children
The University of Sydney

Date Published: Nov 1, 2019

Abstract: The advent of social media in Myanmar following the transition towards civilian rule announced in 2011 has given young people an important new platform for civic engagement and expression, and access to information and knowledge. But while young people are highly engaged with social media and its potential to bring benefits to their daily lives, this research reveals a number of alarming trends. Emerging new dangers such as online sexual harassment and hate speech are widespread and deeply concerning, and threaten to impact the safety and participation of girls and minority groups. Most young people lack the digital citizenship skills required to protect themselves from the online dangers and emotional and mental health impacts of social media highlighted in this report. The study finds evidence that young people across Myanmar suffer from ‘hate speech fatigue’, often exacerbated by repeat exposure to fake news and propaganda targeting specific communities. Over time, this effect limits young Myanmar users’ willingness to seek out and engage with reporting and blocking functions that may help combat fake news and hate speech online. Understanding the impact of social media on social and political discourse in Myanmar is of urgent, critical importance. While the young people in this study saw great potential for social media to increase empathy and understanding between different groups, the struggle to curb anti-Muslim hate speech in particular, and the structural and violent oppression it begets, is still very real. As recent global events have shown, democratic processes are especially vulnerable to disinformation campaigns and the spread of fake news and hate speech. Myanmar’s democracy is still new, and with elections upcoming in 2020, social media could very well play a role in shifting voter attitudes, especially among young people.

Link: Source

Primary Documents

mobile_myanmar_2019_2019-11-06.pdf
English
Download View

Myanmar Internet Project

Select target paragraph3

Mobile Myanmar: The impact of social media on young people in conflict-affected regions of Myanmar

Primary Documents

Notifications