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Mobile Myanmar: The Impact of Social Media on Young People Living in Conflict-Affected Regions of Myanmar 8. Which of these Apps/Platforms do you use most often? Select as many as needed: Facebook Facebook messenger Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Viber WeChat TikTok Google messenger Skype Snapchat Other [please write] 9. What do you think makes a Social App/Platform popular? Select as many as needed: Everyone has it Ability to chat with friends Ability to follow friends Ability to share photos and videos Ability to keep up on news / information Access to educational content Ability to learn more about my religion It’s entertaining Ability to play online games Ability to meet new people Ability to flirt, find romantic partners, or date Ability to organise/find out about events Ability to follow celebrities or personalities I don’t know / I’m not sure Google messenger Other [please write] 116

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

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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.

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mobile_myanmar_2019_2019-11-06.pdf
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Myanmar Internet Project

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

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