India, home to nearly 8.6% of the tribal population, has long been celebrated for its cultural diversity and ancestral wisdom. However, the rapid expansion of globalisation, digital connectivity, and urban migration has profoundly altered the cultural landscape of tribal communities, particularly affecting their younger generations. Once deeply rooted in collective traditions and local epistemologies, many tribal youths today find themselves negotiating the complex intersection of inherited values and modern aspirations.

The increasing penetration of social media has further intensified this cultural transition. Despite economic hardships, smartphones and internet access are widespread among tribal youth. Young tribal men and women engage actively as digital content creators, often seeking visibility and validation in virtual spaces that seldom reflect their lived realities. While a few benefit economically, many experience confusion, imitation, and detachment from their cultural roots.

This paper explores the emergence of hybrid identities among tribal youth that fluctuate between the community's cultural ethos and the mainstream world's individualistic values. Drawing on ethnographic observations and interpretive frameworks from social anthropology, this study examines how social media and urban exposure act as both agents of empowerment and vehicles of cultural dissonance. It argues that the tribal self today is neither entirely traditional nor fully modern, but dynamically situated in a “third cultural space” marked by negotiation, adaptation, and emotional ambiguity. This study concludes by emphasising the importance of culturally responsive education and inclusive policies that honour indigenous identity while supporting social mobility and creative self-expression.