Does Creating Content on YouTube Qualifies for Good Digital Outcome? Understanding the Use of Digital Media by Tribal Women in India

This paper explored the intersection of gender, technology and cultural representation through a case study of a YouTube channel 'Murum Panja' run by a tribal woman and her family in West Bengal, India. Situated within the broader context of digital gender divide and historical marginalisation of indigenous communities, the study highlights how affordable mobile phones and internet access have enabled indigenous women to reclaim cultural identity and visibility. Drawing on qualitative methods including interview and content analysis the paper investigates how digital media, YouTube in particular serves as an alternative platform for cultural preservation and expression. The findings reveal that the channel is a product of familiar collaboration where traditional knowledge is digitised and shared globally. The study underscores the transformative role of mobile technology in empowering tribal women to become cultural archivists and content creators bridging generational gaps and challenging socio-digital exclusions through participatory media practices.