Digital escapism amid conflict: media and gaming behaviors in the shadow of war

Recent flare-ups in geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have rekindled old insecurities over regional instability and evoked intense public interest in both countries. Although not all civilians participate directly in armed conflict, the psychological pressure of such hostilities does not reach the end of the battle lines alone. Regular exposure to the media with a violent backdrop, and uncertainty about the country's security augmented by the politicization of social narratives leads to a sense of collective stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue among the population, including particularly susceptible groups of youth and young people (Masood,2020).