The Role of Social Media in Preserving Collective Memory: A comparative Study of Post Conflict Societies in Rwanda and Sri Lanka

Abstract

The 21st century is defined by the digital era. Global dynamics are taking on a new form, centered around digital technology. Digital tools serve as powerful repositories for preserving memories of the past for future generations. Furthermore, these digital technologies possess the power to connect individuals scattered across vast distances and diverse locations, bringing them together in large groups within seconds. It is due to these characteristics that communities that have lost their collective memory—a pillar of social harmony—are turning to digital technology, particularly mass-oriented social media, to preserve their shared history. Sri Lankan Tamils are a community that has faced ethnic conflict, civil war, and genocide over the past 70 years. Following the end of the civil war in 2009, reconciliation efforts have been undertaken with international intervention. However, the inability of Tamils to preserve their collective memory over the past 17 years remains a profound problem. Communities like the Hutu in Rwanda have achieved significant success in constructing their collective memory through digital technology and social media. Building upon the success of the Hutu, this study is designed to explore the importance of social media as a platform for Sri Lankan Tamils to protect their denied collective memory. This research is structured as an empirical and descriptive study within a qualitative research methodology, employing a comparative approach. Through this, the study identifies the lack of engagement of Sri Lankan Tamils with the rapid pace of the digital era. Furthermore, beyond merely criticizing social media platforms, the study recommends strategies to transform them into platforms that can be utilized by the Tamil community to preserve their collective memory and transmit their past to future generations.