DIGITAL ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT

Abstract

The paper aims to highlight the change in social movement with the onset of the usage of social media. We are living in a fast-paced society with technology being the most important glue that connects us. Social media has become a strong source of information carrier that has evolved the way we now engage in society. It has led to a new type of movement that is Digital social movement or Virtual social activism. The paper aims to describe how the engagement of social media has changed the way society engages in any protest or reform movement, by first collectivizing it on social media rather than on the field. Social media like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have given ample space for individuals to engage in social movements and also act as sources of protest and awareness. Social media networks have given individuals the power to become activists without actually going anywhere physically but rather through a virtual presence. The usage of social media has made social movements quite easy to occur and strengthened their voice for social change. The notion of the global village, as envisioned by Marshall McLuhan, has come to fruition in today's world thanks to the rise of social media and user-friendly apps, eradicating the limitations of time and distance. This has been a blessing for humanity, enabling connectivity at cultural, emotional, intellectual, and economic levels through the sharing of a diverse pool of global information resources.