What missing the Internet means in digital era: A case study of longest ever Internet blackout in Jammu & Kashmir

Abstract

The present study applies uses & gratification theory to assess motivations of people in J&K towards Internet access, their attitudes and opinions on the longest ever Internet blackout for more than 120 days in Jammu & Kashmir. Routine life of almost everyone was affected in some ways or the other. In the 21st Century when access to Internet is recognized globally as a basic human right, this basic right was denied to the people of J&K not just once but several times. Since 2012, almost 180 shutdowns were reported in J&K. Since life at present revolves around the Internet undoubtedly and when that plug is pulled-off several times, it ruptures the social balance from the view of social determinism. Technology that drives the development of society, its social structure and cultural values is the new norm in the 21st Century. The study thus aims to find specific uses of Internet by people in J&K, study their perception and opinions towards “missing” the Internet. The paper thus uses “What Missing the Newspaper Means” as a model to study what missing the Internet means to the people of J&K. Uses and gratifications approach is applied to explain the shifting focus of media from the purposes of communicator to the purposes of the receiver with the help of a survey. The study found that there is significant difference between gender and use of internet for purposeful navigation and there is a significant difference between gender and loss experienced during the Internets’ absence.