Social Media Use by Young People Living in Conflict-Affected Regions of Myanmar

Since Myanmar's transition to civilian rule in 2011, the use of smartphones has exploded. The ubiquitous use of social media, in particular Facebook, has had a well-publicized dark side as a platform for disseminating fake news and hate speech. With poor digital literacy skills, Myanmar users are susceptible to disinformation campaigns and other online dangers, particularly young people, the most prevalent users. The current study collected benchmarking data related to usage patterns and perceptions of social media among Myanmar youth living in conflict-affected areas, including internally displaced Rohingya Muslims whose voice is yet to be captured in social media research. A total of 231 participants from Rakhine and Kayah States aged 13-35 were surveyed about their use of social media and its impact on Myanmar society and their own lives. More than half of the young people sampled were heavy smartphone users, particularly Rohingya Muslims, who rely on social media for contact with society outside of their camps. Facebook was by far the most used app, however, private group chat-based platforms were also popular. A majority said that they check the accuracy of news they read on social media, however, most do so by checking other Facebook pages or asking friends or family. Overall, most young people thought that social media has both a positive impact and negative impact on their lives. This study adds to an emerging body of research into how Myanmar youth engage with social media, particularly regarding how they consume news of current events.