Key points
- Hashtags and livestreams replace traditional protests
- Global movements gain momentum via digital platforms
- Misinformation and manipulation thrive in digital space
ISLAMABAD: In an era where a tweet can spark a revolution and a viral video can sway an election, social media has fundamentally transformed global political movements. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok are no longer just tools for sharing memes—they are battlegrounds for ideas, mobilisation, and political change.
According to a 2025 study titled “The Influence of Social Media on Modern Political Movements,” social media has become a driving force behind activism, enabling movements to “mobilise supporters, coordinate actions, and influence public opinion”.
Across the globe, hashtags have become rallying cries and live‑streams have replaced traditional marches, allowing ordinary citizens to join political causes from their phones.
Creating networks of influence
Social media’s impact is visible from Cairo’s Tahrir Square to Hong Kong’s streets. Movements such as Black Lives Matter and Fridays‑for‑Future illustrate how activism can leap borders in seconds—reframing politics around immediacy and participation rather than old‑school organisation.
Platforms empower individuals previously sidelined, giving them tools to create networks of influence. A 2025 collection in Frontiers in Sociology shows how social media broadens access to political discourse while also introducing echo‑chambers and misinformation risks.
Fertile ground for manipulation
Yet with this power comes peril. Social media’s ability to amplify messages has also made it fertile ground for manipulation. From coordinated campaigns of fake accounts to targeted disinformation, political actors are exploiting platforms to shape narratives and polarise populations.
Some algorithms privilege content that sparks outrage, accelerating divides and eroding trust.
Platforms are navigating a delicate balance: enabling free speech and organisation while curbing harmful manipulation. Governments are scrambling to regulate, while campaigners are debating ethics and truth‑telling in an age of filters and bots.
Social media has helped organise political mobilisations, amplify youth voices, and challenge traditional power structures. It also raises questions about digital literacy, misinformation, and the role of governance in a world where one post can shift public sentiment overnight.
Ultimately, social media is not merely reshaping politics—it is politics. From local movements to global elections, the digital post has joined the public square.
