Section Article

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN MODERN INDIAN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: A NEW PARADIGM OF PROTEST
Author(s): Dr. Kuldeep Kumar

Abstract
The emergence of social media has dramatically transformed the character strategies and public visibility of social movements in India especially as the country approached 2024. Platforms such as Facebook Twitter Instagram and YouTube—as well as decentralized digital spaces—have become essential instruments for mobilization political expression and collective action. Social movements that once relied on physical gatherings print media and traditional networks now navigate an environment shaped by rapid information flows digital narratives and online activism. Social media has redefined how protests originate expand sustain momentum and influence public opinion. It facilitates participation among younger demographics transcends geographical boundaries amplifies marginalized voices challenges dominant power structures and provides tools for real-time coordination. This research examines the evolving role of social media in shaping modern Indian social movements by analyzing how digital platforms reshape activism decentralize leadership create new communication channels and influence state–society interactions. The study argues that while social media expands democratic engagement and enables broader participation it also brings challenges such as misinformation digital surveillance polarization algorithmic bias and unequal access. Through a detailed exploration of past and recent social movements the paper highlights how social media has created a new paradigm of protest—one that merges physical and digital mobilization into a hybrid form of activism characteristic of contemporary India.