Paper short abstract:

The use of mobile phones and social media is a communication necessity for young people in remote communities. They consume popular culture to create a modern identity of themselves. These communication tools affect culture and kinship ties through bullying and sexting.

Paper long abstract:

North East Arnhem Land is home to Indigenous people, called Yolngu. The Yolngu way of life is determined through what is called 'Madayin'. All "property, resource … sacred objects that encode law, song cycles (depicting legal arrangements) … is dictated and governed by Madayin". Yolngu communication law and practice is also governed by 'Madayin' and by 'Gurrutu' or kinship laws. "Gurrutu" is the foundation of all communication and interaction between individuals, clans, and moieties.

The use of mobile phones and social media is today the norm and a communication necessity for young people in remote communities. They find and assert their individuality within the traditional structures of 'Gurrutu', whilst consuming global and popular culture to create a modern identity of an Indigenous young person. Their identity formation is influenced by social media consumer driven content and commercial media, mainly hip hop. Through participant observations and in depth interviews, the use of social media and mobile phones enabling young people to strengthen their culture and kinship ties across geographical distances, is well documented. Without appropriate resources and support for a young person growing up in a remote community however, these communication tools can affect culture and kinship ties through bullying, sexting and fuelling clan rivalry. The vulnerable phase of adolescence is when the inappropriate use of social media and mobile phones can determine the social emotional and wellbeing outcomes of the most vulnerable of young people.