Internet Shutdown: A Strategy to Manage Social Unrest in Manipur and Its Impact on College-Going Youths

In today's digital era, the internet is integral to nearly every aspect of life. However, frequent internet shutdowns have been imposed in Manipur due to various factors to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state. Following ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, an internet shutdown was imposed. It lasted until December 3, 2023, making it the longest in the Northeast and the most extended lockdown in 2023. The present study aimed to examine the impact of this internet shutdown on college students. The study surveyed 401 college students from eight colleges and found that the shutdown significantly affected their academic pursuits, access to information, social interactions, entertainment and online banking and purchasing activities. Moreover, the student's emotional well-being was adversely affected, and they were "anxious" (90%), felt life had come to a standstill (71.3%), felt depressed (69.1%), no longer enjoyed carrying out routine tasks (64.1%), felt less connected to their friends (60.3%) and felt depressed (69.1%). The findings also indicated that most respondents felt dependent on the internet during the shutdown.