Young Kashmiris are filming, editing, and posting like never before. In cafés, college lawns, and on busy streets, phones are propped up against cups or car dashboards as a new kind of work unfolds. Influencing has now become a way of life.

This growing digital culture is reshaping ambition in a region long defined by discord. On Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, Kashmiri youth are finding space to express themselves. Their videos blend style, humour, and social awareness. Many use their platforms to share stories of everyday life or showcase local crafts and landscapes.

These short clips feel like small acts of empowerment in a place where people have often felt unheard.

The numbers are striking. Meta's 2024 data showed a 300 percent rise in creator accounts in Kashmir over two years. Srinagar now has hundreds of small influencers earning from brand collaborations and sponsored posts. This digital energy has come from a region that until recently lived through repeated internet shutdowns. It shows how fast young people adapt when given even a small opening.

For many, this is also about survival. Unemployment among Kashmiri youth remains one of the highest in India. With few local industries and limited startup support, a phone camera offers economic agency. Some creators earn more than many graduates. They are building businesses around content, from travel vlogs to food reviews. Each post adds a fresh layer to how Kashmir is seen by the world.

Still, this space is not free of pressure. Trolling, judgment, and scrutiny create fear. Some creators hold back their opinions to avoid trouble. Others get caught between personal expression and social campaigns that seek to use influencer reach for image-building.

Even with these challenges, this digital wave has opened a new path for Kashmiri youth. It has shifted dreams away from the old idea of stability through government jobs toward creative independence.

MENAFN03112025000215011059ID1110289063