Facebook Aggravates Conflict in Myanmar's Rohingya Crisis

The influence of the media brings with it many unforeseen consequences: Facebook's role in the Rohingya crisis offers insight into the abyss of social media. This reality forces us to find solutions for democratic coexistence - even on the Internet.

In Myanmar, Facebook is the internet. Often pre-installed on mobile phones, many users are unaware that the social network is only a small part of the actual internet. And, as in other countries, hate speech's inflation can be observed on the internet. Cyberbullying is rampant, and disinformation endangers the stability of old and young democracies.

The lack of media experience and the widespread use of Facebook in Myanmar mean that hate speech and fake news are rarely questioned and spread quickly. It is difficult for many to distinguish between high-quality journalistic articles and fake news. The government also primarily uses Facebook posts as a means of communication. The interaction of Facebook's media dominance and the low media literacy of its users have created a toxic mixture. For more, please click here.