Mobile Phones in Everyday Life of Mao Naga Youth: Mobile Cultures and Online Social Networking Practices of Mao, Manipur

Mobile phones have facilitated connectivity in the north eastern region of India in terms of Information and Communication technology (ICT). The convergence of Mobile phones and social networking sites has become a forum for Mao Naga youth of Manipur to construct one’s personal, social and political identity. The paper focuses on the ‘mobile population’ among the Mao youth who are constantly using the medium to stay connected with their friends and with their family who are far away. They are also regularly using Facebook to express their feelings and opinions with their peer groups, friends, acquaintances or with those who share similar interests. It is an attempt to understand how the Mao Naga youth have incorporated and appropriated the use of Mobile technologies in their lives and how they are using this technology as a medium to interact and communicate through social networking sites like Facebook.