10 M. THE-THITSAR among Shan and Kayah are currently using Burmese script, but some groups in border areas between Myanmar and Thailand prefer using scripts similar to Thai orthography.57 All respondents who belong to this third group say they have been using Burmese more than their own languages when they write and share posts on Facebook. However, Mon and Shan respondents note that they have also used their own languages for Facebook posts, and observed that most people in their ethnic communities use Burmese more commonly on posts while using their languages in texting on Messenger. The relatively more frequent uses of Mon and Shan languages may be explained by the availability of keyboards (known as Unicode and Zawgyi digital key­ boards) for both languages. Respondents of both languages noted that Unicode is more accessible than Zawgyi in texting on the phones.58 Despite concerns over the purpose, efficiency and accessibility of Unicode by non-Bamar speakers, some members of mino­ rities and technicians appreciate Unicode’s advantage for some ethnic languages which share similar font patterns with Burmese (such as Pa-O, Mon, Shan, Ta'ang and Karen).59 One of my Shan respondents, for instance, remarked that “when Burmese Unicode became official, we came to realize we should encourage using more of our Shan Unicode [Namkhone keyboard and font] on Facebook . . . I think our [Shan language] will be the next Facebook [Language] in Myanmar and we will be more prepared if we use [Shan] Unicode.’60 On the other hand, Karen, Kayah, Pa-O and Ta'ang respondents said they used Burmese more actively both in writing posts and texting through Messenger. These language groups use their own scripts, which can adapt the forms and shapes of Burmese script in writing on digital devices and have separate Unicode keyboards for digital devices as well. However, respondents admit that they tend to use Burmese on Facebook and Messenger due to its flexibility and accessibility, particularly Myanmar Unicode. According to Pa-O respondents, ‘using Burmese fonts like Zawgyi is not friendly to all Pa-O alphabet as some Pa-O scripts are slightly different from Burmese and some words can’t be typed properly [in Zawgyi], though we [Pa-O people] under­ stand it. Thus, Myanmar Unicode is being used because the font issue is more adaptable.’ When they are asked to compare frequency of usage between Burmese and Pa-O on Facebook, two Pa-O respondents, both males in their 30s and 40s, replied that they use Burmese more frequently in both writing posts and texting. One, however, added that ‘the situation can be different for older generations [of Pa-O people] who mostly live in villages and are not active users of Facebook, relying more on verbal communication when they use phones [meaning voice messages and voice calls available in Facebook and Messenger].’61 One male Karen male respondent in his 30s states: ‘Different Unicode versions are available in Karen languages and are used more in formal letter writing or for publishing books in Karen. [Ordinary] people, however, use Burmese as it is easier to install in mobile phones.’ In sum, while Burmese is Myanmar’s sole official Facebook language, minority groups have been able to communicate in their languages on the platform. Groups that use Roman scripts (Kachin, Chin, Naga) or Burmese scripts (Rakhine and Danu) in parti­ cular can engage in easier written communication than those that developed their own scripts, since they need to have specialized keyboards installed into the devices. However, larger groups such as Mon, Shan, and Karen that have already had their script adapted into keyboards are also adaptable to digital applications on phones and tablets and can