Vivonu Savi
In a state with 17 officially recognized tribes, all distinct from each other in many aspects from languages to food to clothing to everyday practices, individuality is what makes up the present generation. However, as social media becomes such a prevalent feature in all our lives, a disconnect has formed between our individual selves and the type of personality we seem to create online.
For many students, social media has become a space where identity is carefully constructed, thus concepts like performatism truly shine. This has caused a cultural regression as we lean more towards western ideas and movements. In a world dominated by perfectly curated feeds and digital personas, our tribal identity often struggles to find space to exist authentically. Although our cultural pride occasionally surfaces through art, photography, and videography, it rarely grows at the same pace as the rapid detachment many teenagers experience from their cultural roots online.
However, we must also take into account the idea that we live in an ever-changing world that is growing constantly. Our cultural identities, though immensely powerful and beautiful, are outweighed when we think of the progression of the rest of the world. In a reality where Artificial Intelligence and frequent miscommunication tends to erase it, our tribal identities become overshadowed by global affairs, especially when most of us do not even know how taxes work. Perhaps, then, the answer is not to resist this cultural shift entirely, but to seek a balance in which technological progress and cultural identity coexist rather than compete.
Ultimately, the challenge facing our generation is the responsibility to carry both our culture and modernity with intention. Social media and globalization will continue to shape how we see ourselves, yet they do not have to erase the identities rooted in our traditions. Instead, they offer an opportunity to redefine how culture is expressed in a digital age. By consciously preserving our tribal heritage while engaging with the wider world, we ensure that individuality remains not a fading memory, but a living presence. In doing so, we create a future where progress grows with our roots ensuring evergrowth.
