DIGITAL ACTIVISM: SOCIAL MEDIAS ROLE IN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

This paper examines the transformative role of digital activism in contemporary social movements, focusing on how social media platforms facilitate collective action and political change both in Bangladesh and globally. Through case studies-including the Shahbagh Movement (2013), the Road Safety Movement (2018), and the July Revolution (2024) in Bangladesh, alongside global movements such as the Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter, and the Hong Kong protests-it explores how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram enable decentralized mobilization, amplify marginalized voices, and circumvent traditional media. While digital activism democratizes participation and fosters transnational solidarity, it also faces challenges, including misinformation, state surveillance, and platform commercialization. Despite concerns regarding coordination and the translation of online action into tangible change, digital activism has reshaped political engagement by empowering grassroots movements, redefining leadership structures, and facilitating real-time global communication. The study underscores the complex, evolving relationship between digital technologies and sociopolitical activism in the 21st century.]