Mobile Myanmar: The Impact of Social Media on Young People Living in Conflict-Affected Regions of Myanmar “The young people here don’t use Facebook to form groups. They mainly use WeChat and IMO. They don’t have big mobilization activities. Unlike the other sides, Rakhine young people, who use social media for mobilization and propagating. Our young people here they use social media more for entertainment, like gathering people for soccer games.” Male, 29 years, Rohingya Muslim, Basara (Rakhine State IDP) Consistent with this view, there was an example of social media being used by a young Buddhist in urban Rakhine to mobilize a protest against the Rohingya community. “Yes, if we want to mobilise protests, we use Facebook to do that. We have protested about the Kalar in Rathe Taung Township area once. We have also protested in Sittwe when Kofi Annan [Former Secretary General of UN, Chaired the Advisory Commission on Rakhine Issue 2016-2017] arrived.” Male, 20 years, Rakhine Buddhist, Sittwe (Rakhine State urban) When asked if social media can be used to increase empathy and understanding among people in society, the majority of respondents said ‘yes’. The ways in which this was done this included sharing feelings, moral knowledge, and antihate speech information, or simply promoting communication and general ‘awareness’ of others. “Sharing one’s feeling and posts that encourage others who are feeling down and tell them not to give up in their life.” Female, 18 years, Kaman Muslim, Basara (Rakhine State IDP) “I think they can because social media is widely used among people and it is influential. It can create change by initiating positive causes like anti-hate speech.” Female, 36 years, Kayan Christian, Loikaw (Kayah State urban) “We can increase our understanding by communicating with each other.” Female, 32 years, Kayah Buddhist, Ve Seh Ku village (Kayah State rural) Others said that the potential for social media to be a positive social force had not yet been realised and pointed to the need for more education for young people around social media and ‘awareness raising’ sessions. “We can promote peace and unity between different young people through social media by organizing more training and awareness raising sessions.” Male, 20 years, Rakhine Buddhist, Sittwe (Rakhine State urban) “It would be good if there was training to educate young people how to use social media in good ways.” Male, 34 years, Kayan Christian, Lo Bar Kho village (Kayah State rural) “We need to organize campaigns, awareness raising sessions and training among the young people.” Male, 29 years, Rohingya Muslim, Basara (Rakhine State IDP) 83