Written by the SecDev Foundation
The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative continues to publish exciting research exploring the intersection of the digital world with politics and resistance in Myanmar. The below collection of articles from independent Myanmar researchers reflect the complexities and challenges of ‘doing politics’ in the digital age:
“Targeted identities: Cyberbullying and online harassment of LGBTQ individuals in Myanmar” by Thein Dollar looks at the intersection of social media use and the pervasive issue of cyberbullying and online harassment faced by LGBTQ individuals in Myanmar.
“Voices amid strife: Rohingya Perceptions of the Arakan Army, war in Rakhine, and justice in Myanmar” by Tin Mar Oo, May Thu, Zar Ti Nwe Nu Aung and Hilary Faxon looks at how the media portray conflict dynamics and how Rohingya community members experience and interpret the Arakan Army’s territorial struggle, the ongoing conflict in Rakhine, and broader revolutionary developments in Myanmar.
“Social overload: Social media use and mental health in Myanmar” by the Calm Lab team looks at how excessive use of platforms like Messenger, Facebook, and Telegram during crisis periods correlates with chronic stress and depression, revealing a significant link between exposure to crisis-related content and poor mental health outcomes.
“Seeing fakes: Assessing digital literacy and misinformation resistance in Myanmar” by Intellectum Research Consortium looks at how diverse populations in Myanmar interpret, verify, and respond to online information, revealing gaps in digital literacy and the risks of misinformation under authoritarian digital governance.
“Digital resistance: Understanding and strengthening online activism in Myanmar” by Thurein Lwin, Nyan Aye, Khit Tar, Aung Sett Paing and Aung Kyaw Soe looks at at the role of digital platforms in sustaining the Spring Revolution, analyzing how censorship, trust, and activism interact in online spaces amid military repression.
“Four years after: Surveying post-coup perceptions and lived experiences in Myanmar” by Jangai Jap, Htet Myet Min Tun, Mozart Brang, Myat Thiri Bo and Naw Awng Jakan looks at attitudes toward federal democracy, public administration, and digital repression across diverse communities, based on a large-scale online survey four years after the military coup.
These six papers are among the 27 research studies funded under a K4DM project being carried out by the SecDev Foundation, a Canadian non-profit focused on digital safety. All of the researchers undergo digital risk assessment support as part of preparing for both online/digital and field research in Myanmar.