Southeast Asia is home to many different ethnic, religious and Indigenous groups, each with its unique cultural traditions and beliefs. That diversity is a rich resource in itself but also poses a challenge for many countries of the region attempting to forge a shared citizenship born out of a post-colonial nationalist legacy. Regional researchers are much concerned with social justice and the human rights claims of minority groups, especially in countries where they struggle for recognition and resources. While positive representations of minorities can generate benefits and opportunities, negative representations can bring the minority group into contention in the public sphere. In the language of political populism, they may be depicted as a challenge to the status and income of the majority, a cause of civil unrest, a moral risk, a threat to land ownership or a drain on the economy. The contentious politics of unitary nationalism across the region drives the negative stereotyping of minorities, often for short-term political gains. Researchers point out that the recent explosion of Internet connectivity and the fast development of social media and web-based communities have had both positive and negative consequences for minorities in the region.