Negotiating Regional Identities on Digital Media through the Paradox of Freedom and Control

Abstract The contemporary global world is inter-connected through increased digital access and internet connectivity. The gradual shift of mainstream media towards digital platforms is widely propagated through social media channels and OTT platforms with global outreach. These platforms offer individuals the opportunity to express themselves freely without any restrictions. The present paper is based on the content analysis of 80 popular Haryanvi songs, including those banned by the government for allegedly promoting violence and gun culture. The paper discusses that these songs operate within dual dynamics: songs reasserting Haryanvi culture and reclaiming regional identity in a modern world concurrently inviting criticism and scrutiny by the government to regulate cultural expression in the name of maintaining public morality and social order. The paper interrogates that although digital media platforms have enhanced individual freedom leading to emergence of regime control and regulation. The study attempts to contribute to research on the paradox of mediated freedom and autonomy through state-led intervention in contemporary popular media cultures, making digital platforms a negotiated space for expression.