Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part H (2025)

The ethnic violence that began in Manipur in May 2023 marked a shift in how internal conflicts in India unfold, with digital spaces playing a central role alongside physical violence. This study examines how social media, long internet shutdowns, and youth politics especially on college campuses shaped the Meitei–Kuki conflict. Using secondary sources such as academic studies, reports, and verified media, the analysis shows that social media became both a tool for spreading ethnic mobilization and a platform for resistance. The prolonged 143-day internet shutdown did not reduce tensions; instead, it worsened misinformation, deepened grievances, and fuelled youth radicalization. Educational institutions and campus politics acted as key spaces where online narratives translated into real-world action, reinforcing ethnic divisions. Overall, the study highlights how security-driven digital controls in divided societies can unintentionally intensify conflict rather than contain it.