Mediated information grounds: living with(in) pareshani , social networks and gendered media practices among the Rohingya refugees

The rapid expansion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social media has fundamentally transformed the production, distribution, and consumption of information, especially within marginalised and displaced communities. Drawing on qualitative data, this study investigates the information practices of Rohingya refugees and their navigation of environments shaped by genocide and prolonged displacement. The findings indicate that trauma, persistent uncertainty, and insecurity generate pareshani (anxiety), which significantly shapes media use and information behaviour. In response, refugees develop collaborative strategies to build social networks that resist exploitation, surveillance, and misinformation. These practices are situated within gendered, transnational, and socio-digital dynamics that traverse both geographical and digital boundaries. The study introduces the concept of ‘Mediated Information Grounds’ to illustrate the interplay among space, trust, privacy, and community engagement across diverse contexts. This framework demonstrates how ICT-mediated information practices intersect with technical, relational, and spatial dimensions, enabling individuals to co-create meaning, negotiate identity, and foster resilience. Overall, the study provides a nuanced account of how marginalised populations construct hybrid information ecosystems grounded in networked, participatory communication, thereby contributing to scholarship on information and communication practices in complex and precarious environments.