The Role of Technology in Shaping Social Movements Aditya Chauhan 11 High School Student, Department of Science, GD Goenka Public School, Kashipur, India*Correspondence should be addressed to Aditya Chauhan; [email protected] © 2024 Made Aditya Chauhan.ABSTRACT: In the modern world, technology assumes the greatest importance in the social movements, contributing to social change as it enables the organizers of the given movements. This paper aims at analyzing the role of digital technologies particularly social networks together with other social media applications that translate grassroots initiatives into global social movements. An extension of the technology leverages the oppressed and hidden voices being heard and VIOLENCE faster mobilization as witnessed in the black lives matter and the Arab spring. But it is important to mention that the threats such as digital vigilance fake news and slacktivism also emerge clock threatening to supplant real activism. The results indicate that technology improves the performance of social movements but that activists should be aware and reflective when adopting these tools to their cause. Conclusively, the correlation between the technology and social movements will be clearer and more relevant to effective stakeholder advocacy and societal advancement in subsequent. KEYWORDS: Technology, Social Movements, Activism, Digital Tools, Social Media, Grassroots Organizing, Cyberactivism, Privacy, Surveillance, Global Connectivity.INTRODUCTION A social movement may be defined as the collective action of people for the purpose of bringing about change or opposing it. They emerge from collective injustice, unequal treatment and advocacies for change, and mainly organized around certain causes like the black people, gay rights, climate changes and the poor. In the past social movements have been vital helping to form societies such as the abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage movement, and civil rights movement \cite{2006}. These movements have employed print media including hand bills and power point presentation, oral communication inclusive of speeches, and nonverbal communication including demonstrations and parade. This paper holds the social theory that the advancement of technology has impacted social movements. While different technologies such as the printing press succeeded by telephones and television have aided activists in spreading information more accurately and getting to the wider population. But the most drastic change that has occurred in the war is in the information age. With the help of Internet and mobile equipments everyone can get information and can communicate and organize immediately. Twitter, face book and Instagram has proven to be vital in-way the activists reaches out to the public, share messages, organize supporters and narrate events as they happ en. Its effect has not only increased the rate of Social movements, but also increasing the influence rate of other movements other than traditional establishments at the grassroots level. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to understand the part played by technology in different social movements today by analyzing how technology impacts activism. It seeks to discuss the significance of these changes in so far as they would affect everybody and technology as an activist tool – the positive and remarkable side, and the several undesirable side effects which have accompanied it. This paper focuses on the exploration of the link between technology and social movements in a bid to understanding how to champion the cause behind these tools. This research articulates its central thesis in the argument that technology has only served to heighten, disperse, and transform activism in today’s society. Through enabling quick mobilization, improving communication and increasing the horizons of social movements, technological intervention is an important instrument in supporting social change. But it also raises fundamental questions about the impacts of digital engagement – distorting, dominating and raising hopes of creating merely shallow relationships. The structure of this paper will unfold as follows: First of all, let us consider the historical background of social movements indicating their development and principal instances. In the subsequent section, we will discuss the technological enabling capability with prime focus on relevant emerging technologies’ timeline starting from pre-digital age to contemporary time. Building on this, we will then examine different actual social movements of the contemporary society, demonstrating the technology integration in those movements. Last, we will look into the trends which may be seen in the technology and how it will affect the activism, benefits and drawbacks that may be experienced. Ultimately, it is the hope of the paper to utilize this exploration to offer a complex analysis of the manner in which technology informs existing models of social movements and the acts of social justice within the modern world.HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF SOCIAL MOVEMENT AND TECHNOLOGYPre-Digital Era Movements Social movements earlier are mainly with detailed organizational formation and personal contact interactions. Civil rights movement and the feminist movement especially could not have operated for most of it without in-person assemblies, speeches, and printing of fliers. For example, the civil rights movement of the 1950 and 1960 meant that activists used local churches and community centres as social meetings places where they planned protests, sit-down and boycotts against racial discrimination. Historic actions like the march on Washington back in 1963 actually required intense networking because the kind of support one receives today could not be attained back then without networking and the pleasure for this gathering was obtained through simple group action \cite{Tarrow_1998}. Similarly, meetings in group formation, protests, and use of fliers and banners were common protests of the Feminist movement especially the second wave movement of the 1960s and 1970s that demanded abortion rights and equal employment opportunities for women and opposition to domestic violence. There are instances like the Women’s Liberation Movement where they protested against the invasion of their bodies and physically demanding the officials make check of it or the Miss America Protest in 1968 whereby protestors just aggressively demanded for awareness of their check. The focus on community engagement together with physical presence demonstrated commitment of activists for change despite lack of use of electronic media. Technology's Early Role in Activism Although technology had started to play a role in activism many years prior, it was not a significant role until the following years. Even earlier technologies demonstrate that, while face-to-face communication characterized social movements before the advent of the digital age, earlier technologies also started to figure prominently in activism as well. Newspapers were one of the first mobilization channels; people could publish their material and spread the messages of activists. The nature of the paper that William Lloyd Garrison wrote titled “The Liberator” was very important to the campaign in question because it was the paper of the abolitionists. Radio and television also dramatically advanced activism since the activism messages could reach many people in a short span. During the civil rights movement, demonstrations and police misconduct were reported by television and amazed the country. TV programs such as ‘Meet the Press’, news editions depicting the civil rights’ key players such Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X rendered first-hand visibility to its goals. Radio was equally useful in dissemination of information and mobilization of activists for planning and the implementation of activities especially in the rural areas where the use of print media was sparingly done. It was evident during the Vietnam war protest when protestant violent events were demonstrated on the screens and brought to American living rooms. This lead to the increasing use of technology in media to influenced public opinion and mobilise people for change as seen by the increasing formation of anti war sentiment due to this exposure. Transition to Digital Platform The transition to the digital era marked a significant shift in how social movements operated. The rise of the internet in the late 20th century transformed communication and information dissemination. Online platforms began to emerge as powerful tools for organizing and activism, allowing movements to expand their reach beyond local communities. Key aspects of this transition include: Emergence of Social Media: Blogs of activists and posting and sharing ideas, videos, and images on the social networks such as Face book, twitter and You tube help with mobilizing the people.Global Connectivity: Blogs of activists and posting and sharing ideas, videos, and images on the social networks such as Face book, twitter and You tube help with mobilizing the people. Case Study - Arab Spring: These series of protests in 2010–2011 demonstrated the ways, in which new media technologies supported the process of organization, sharing of information, and voice of activists calling for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.Rise of Mobile Technology: Increased mobile phone usage made communication fast since activists could call for people to mobilize, and conduct protests, and share information at very short intervals. Rapid Response Capability: The ability to socialize through text messaging platform and developing mobile applications allowed for activist to function in a responsive manner that would allow for real time response. Case Study - Black Lives Matter: This movement was better at leveraging mobile apps to share live content, report personal experiences with the police, and generating viral campaigns in general from the web and hence reach a wider audience. Briefly, this section on social movements defined in the social-historical perspective shows how the processes have been deeply transformed by technology. They have been learning how to mobilise to leverage available resources right from the grassroots organising of the pre-digital era movements to the strategic use of early technologies of media activism. New technological solutions have become one of the key defining characteristics of activism – making activism more connected, visible, and effective. This way it could be useful to distinguish these types of activism for better understanding of processes and outcomes of the technology for today activism. HOW DIGITAL TOOLS FACILITATE SOCIAL MOVEMENTSSocial Media Platforms The present generation also employs the use on Internet social sights such as Face book, twitter, and Instagram to foster support for their social causes. These platforms not only help to organise protests, but also help to share information quickly, as well as build a community. Facebook: Since virtually all people use Facebook, the platform proves suitable for events planning and promotion. Figure 1 shows that activists can organize an event where they specify details of the protests, channel information on logistics, and invite the audiences. For instance, the Women’s March in 2017 participated through social media Facebook to receive support from million people worldwide. It includes updating the wall, posting images, and videos so people remain drawn to the movement and remember it is still active .Twitter: Because of its word limit, which is 280 characters to be precise, it is excellent for real-time updates. In this ecosystem, hashtags occupy a central place because they help to tag and follow the topics. Some of the social justice movements have been heightened through the platform like the #BlackLivesMatter the movement through sharing news on the unfortunate event and support by writing same on the wings and call to action \cite{Juris_2020}. Through its trend list which ensures the issues within are accessible to a broad group of people, the platform is also beneficial for awareness and advocating for change. Instagram: Movements have the best chance to get their message out on Instagram since as a visual platform it allows for effective storytelling. This is applied in the platform as it allows the activists to post graphics, share their own individual or real life stories, actual event videos to elicit an emotional appeal. It is for this reason that the #MeToo movement has been active on Instagram and it also uses it to share this information. Real-time Communication The use of the technologies also brings about one of the most significant shifts in the way learners relate; this is through real-time communication. This kind of share of information within a moment has thoroughly transformed how social movements function. Live Streaming: Most events occur through Facebook Live and Instagram Live which enable activists to relay the events as and when they occur thus affording the ‘raw’ view of the protests and rallies. This real time live can mobilize support and bring awareness to matters in ways that prime media cannot. For example, during the Black Lives Matter protests, people could see the police, and therefore, the authorities could not regulate what people saw through live streaming as easily. Hashtags and Viral Posts: Nowadays hashtags serve as people’s gathering point in case of social media movements. They keep focus and promote interaction and engagement amongst the participants of the meeting. Even more, posts shared virally can result in a higher increase in awareness because people share material with their acquaintances. This type of information dissemination leads to action as information, unfortunately, spreads fast when the public goes to social media sites prevalent in the #MeToo movement where people felt free to share a story or ordeals and demand justice. Hashtag Activism Hashtag activism has become a phenomenon in the contemporary society through which people are able to form some common purpose, use it to create awareness and to foster unity among people. #MeToo: Many ordinary people know about this movement; it started being used as a means to let sexual violence survivors tell their stories. By the use of the hashtag movement, millions of people came out to reveal the extensive cases of sexual harassment and assaults in the various workplaces. The phenomenon #MeToo was not only the awareness of its spread but also the emergence of new legislation and caused discourses on consent and organizational practices.#BlackLivesMatter: While it was initiated to address the too frequent police misconduct and generalized racism, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter evolved into an international protest in defense of Black lives. Through the hashtag, people have been able to schedule protest, pass information regarding incidents of violence, and even call for support. Also located in the accessibility of forming a solidarity of individuals from different parts of the region thus forming collective actions \cite{BONILLA_2015}. #ArabSpring: The uprising known as the Arab Spring is a perfect example of how hashtags pull together people’s initiatives. Twitter played the center stage in availing information about the unfolding events – protests, human rights abuses – in the Middle East and North Africa. It did not only unite various groups, people, but it also made the situations international by becoming a trending tag, forcing governments to look into the cries of their citizens. Crowdsourcing and Fundraising Social movements have also been able to transform its ways of fundraising through online fundraising and crowdsourcing. GoFundMe: This platform enables a person to create a fundraising campaign for a specific need thus enabler small groups carry out their initiatives by finding support from all over. For instance, such campaigns as those concerning the rights of marginalized groups in society, or disaster-struck regions are likely to attract responses from contributors promptly. Kickstarter: Kickstarter has mostly been an outlet for creative projects, although it has been employed in social causes too. It allows activists to present the projects that are realized within their movement and invite supporters who want to financially contribute to corresponding causes. Change.org: This is a petitioning platform, whereby people can demand the change they desire and even create mass campaigns from there. Second, the petitions serve to present the concerns of the activists to the policymakers and the leading organizations as well. Cyberactivism and HacktivismCyberactivism and hacktivism are subcategories of technology activism where technological artefacts are used for protest, advocacy, and opposition.Anonymous: This rather spread out collection of activists and hackers is notorious for using the internet primarily for free speech and protest. The targets have been a wide range of targets such as, actions against organizations that are considered corrupt or oppressive. Thus, the authors’ work shows that cyber means can contribute to social causes’ activation, which is not necessarily tied to conventional methods. WikiLeaks: Wikileaks is centralized by Julian Assange; it leaks out top secret documents and reveals some wrong doings of governments and huge organizations. As a site for whistleblowers, WikiLeaks has turned into an effective instrument of activist work that helps to shed light on some problems which may otherwise remain unnoticed. Impact of Cyberactivism: Cyberactivism can call people to support one or another cause, draw attention to some injustice, or even subvert authoritarian governments. But at the same time it is being criticised for its capacity to incite violence or to spark social tensions. It is always a fruitful challenge to weigh up the advantages of employing technology for activism and the drawbacks of such a course of action. The use of the technology to promote social movements is unalike from before, signaling a new level of enablement. The threaded communication occurs through social media platforms; likewise, hashtag activism occurs through umbrella causes. Crowdfunding and crowdsourcing remove barriers toward access to funding making the initiation more grassroots. Cyberactivism is defined and it’s relationship with hacktivism has shown how technology can be used for emancipatory agenda. When it comes to role of digital tools in social movements, it is impossible to overstate the impact that advances in the field will have on the prospects for activism and meaningful change. A clear appreciation of these resources is critical for the purpose of creating change in the current world for the activist. DECENTRALIZATION OF LEADERSHIP AND POWER Most of the new technologies are now seen to have a revolutionary impact on the organization of movements and leadership whereby there is significant decentralization of authority in social movements. Typically traditional social movements’ structures were more or less organized using the models of hierarchical nature, implying the existence of leaders who coordinate actions and kinds of actions. Earlier forms of activism have focused on specific causes for a select group of people to address, but the new opportunity of interaction resulting from correlated social media and digital communication offers collective actions for activists without focusing on certain causes or distinctive groups of people to be addressed. These decentralized characteristics has a bearing in the efficiency, duration, and integration of purpose of social movements. The Traditional Model of Leadership The Traditional Model of Leadership On the traditional model of leadership, White (2010) identifies three leadership positions that are multiplicative of one another. In the past, social movements have relied on people who were assigned as leaders of the movement. This model can be illustrated using such historical personalities: Martin Luther King Jr. during civil rights movement or Susan B. Anthony during women’s suffrage movement. Further, unlike the ordinary leaders who only speak and articulate the people’s cause, these leaders also convened the masses as well as coordinated them. As with any approach, there are associated risks: for instance, often such movements might indeed be over-dependent upon key leaders. Banishment or sidelining of these personalities results to segmentation, examples of which are emancipatory movements that floundered once their spearhead was dethroned. The Shift to Decentralized LeadershipAs a result of current advancements in technology, leadership has transitioned from centric authority to distributed authority, which implies collective action. This changes makes it possible for everybody to participate and for individuals to assume full responsibility for activism without necessarily forming formal structures \cite{Kavada_2020}. Several factors contribute to this trend: Access to Information: The use of ICT helps extend the reach of information and additional resources which empowers the public and thus, more actuated supporter base. This dissemination of level of knowledge brings in people and encourages them to act on their own if necessary, that is why we have some movements and protest being spearheaded from below. Fluidity of Roles: Amorphous structure refers to the fact that in decentralized movements, roles depicted are usually flexible and not well defined. Accordingly, participants can be divided into coordinators, promoters, contributors, and endorsers depending on the persons’ capabilities and preferences. It keeps the approaches against sexism dynamic; inclusion of voices in the movement by such expansion boosts the use of different means of communication. Peer-to-Peer Communication: Social media enables everyone to share information plus strategies without any mediators and this is in a very short span of time. These relations form a networked activism model where information is passed from one actor to the other, and a decision can be made among them. Through the active participation from people, movements can strong three intelligences; invention, plan, and practice and turn up new ways of activism. Case Studies of Decentralized Movement Several contemporary movements exemplify the power and potential of decentralized leadership: Black Lives Matter (BLM): BLM has risen in reaction to the police brutality and racism that is still rife in today’s world, and has now expanded into a global action spearheaded by a decentralised leadership. It started on social media with the ‘hash tag, #BlackLivesMatter’ and it is not a movement that has a figurehead, or a leader in the usual sense of the word. It is, however, a confederation of many local chapters and activists working on different cases in their societies. This model also provides BLM with the ability to react to local oppression while still preserving the overall BLM narrative of black erasure. Occupy Wall Street (OWS): Receiving its start in 2011, this movement is also considered to be decentralized – OWS – Occupy Wall Street. Oh yeah, it cropped up as a social and political feature with cases of increased incomes, corporate funds in politics among others. OWS applied the horizontal prevalence organizational structures with the participants operating from a consensus science in arriving at decisions. This structure made people with different backgrounds and experiences come forward to participate and work for society because everyone thought similarly. Because of such decentralization, OWS was almost instantly copied in cities around the world, leading to an unprecedented world discourse on equal economy. #MeToo Movement: Just one word is enough to gather over the millions women worldwide to stand against the sexual harassment and assault such as the #MeToo case. Having begun with Tarana Burke and recently being aided by social media there is no central person, no clear organization. No, rather it is promoted through testimonies of the sufferers who upload their experiences on the internet. It provides an opportunity for people to take their control back and encourages solidarity among participants addressing large societal issues of consent, accountability and justice. Benefits of Decentralization The decentralization of leadership and power within social movements offers several advantages: Inclusivity: Again, decentralised systems allow more people and diverse opinions to become a part of the movement. Such a policy creates the empathy needed to be on the side of the activist and make more people embrace activism. Since every person’s perspective is unique and targeted strategies can be developed to address all sorts of issues, practices can become more holistic—more inclusive \cite{Bennett_2012}. Inclusivity: Again, decentralised systems allow more people and diverse opinions to become a part of the movement. Such a policy creates the empathy needed to be on the side of the activist and make more people embrace activism. Since every person’s perspective is unique and targeted strategies can be developed to address all sorts of issues, practices can become more holistic—more inclusive . Resilience: The decentralized leaders lead to complex movements whose capabilities of handling challenges are usually somewhat superior. Lacking paramount leader, which means when one person is attacked or removed, the movement is not threatened. These strengths are quite useful when activists are threatened by the state or some hate from other quarters as they fight discrimination. Innovation: Fresh initiatives are also easier to accommodate in decentralized movements. Lack of feyness as well as interchangeability of roles and responsibilities helps the participants to try new approaches that might not be tried if there is a strict structure governing the work being done. Such flexibility may be particularly desirable in situations where social or political environment is changing. Challenges of Decentralization Despite its benefits, the decentralization of leadership and power also presents challenges: Coordination Difficulties: Decentralized plan can be quite complex because it may be rather difficult to organise certain actions and strategies. This swallowed lack of cohesion or order among the participants and weakens the movement since disparity of views and goals will always be a predominant factor among the members. Accountability Issues: Whereas accountability, is not always clear as to who makes decisions and who takes actions in view of decentralization having the following demerits. This need is felt strongly to avoid the erosion of public trust and maintain the integrity of the follow up of the original intentions of the movement. Risk of Dilution: The problem with movements is that as they expand and as the supporters become more diverse, there is a danger that the message presented by the movements may evolve or become watered down. Positive deviance and engagement in dialogue while maintaining the program’s central focus requires ongoing talk. The decentralization of leadership and power that we observe in social movements has given a completely new concept of activism within the digital environment. Where earlier leadership approaches favored personalities and emotional appeal, the adoption of digital tools has created adaptant leadership in activism. Today, ideologically decentralized global campaigns of Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, and #MeToo movements identify the role of people’s involvement and interpersonal communication. Nevertheless, the benefits of having inclusiveness, having more resilience and the potentiality of innovations that stem from decentralization argue for this new model of activism. Therefore, the study of the leadership styles of diverse decentralized movements persists within the development of advanced society, and social activism in general for people who demand change in an interconnected world.ROLE OF DATA, SURVEILLANCE, AND PRIVACY IN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Integration of technologies into social movements remains a double-edged sword with respect to Government surveillance, privacy and the impact of big data. When activists expand on using information technologies in their work, questions of data gathering and surveillance grow more significant. This section aims to discuss the relations between surveillance, privacy and tactical actions of activist in the context of digital era.Government Surveillance Governments around the world have used different technologies to spy activists and quell protests. Surveillance online activities has been practiced with many agencies monitoring the post, comments and interaction to look for threats and keep track of the activists. Automated facial recognition extends this ability, when authorities can identify people in crowds and gain details of their movements or associations. In addition, the tracking of data enables the governments to obtain general and specific records of activists right from their affiliations, their links and frequently, places of residence. A level of control such as this in social mobilization becomes very questionable when those who speak out online are threatened or prosecuted for their freedom of speech \cite{tufekci2017}.Privacy Concerns In response to these threats, privacy concerns have become one among the important areas that activists can identify and be concerned about. It is therefore important to ensure privacy and security of information shared on-line as activists are exposed to dangers affecting digital use. To protect privacy there are many applications which have been created such as encryption application that ensures that the communication is protected from anybody. VPNs are used to change them to the show interest of the third person in the IP address of the user and his/her operation on the Internet. Some of the proxy systems like the Tor allow the users to surf the internet with anonymity besides the anonymity provided by the proxies \cite{house2021}. However, to some extent these tools may offer some level of security; but on the plus side these tools also require a little bit of technical skills and may not be easily within the reach of every activist; therefore they induce a form of security inequality of personal details \cite{international2019}. Big Data and Social Change In the field of social movements, data analysis can be seen serving two functions and one contention. On the one hand, it is may be employed for forecasting the tendencies of social activity movements and for the analysis of the tendencies of public activity, the level of interest and the perspectives of arising issues. Some big organizations and researcher can use these web logs from social websites, to assess how the particular topic is popular and even to predict, where and when there is a possibility of protest or social unrest. That is why this capability can help movements, helping activists coordinate their actions and outreach based on the information they receive. However, big data also has some certain ethical issues related to spying and control as well. It is equally possible for government and companies to use the same approaches that can make a movement more effective and efficient in its operations . Countermeasures A number of tactics have been invented by the activists who want to avoid surveillance of their online activities. Among the most effective of them all is the recall of the use of secure mobile applications such as the signal or telegram of which the messages exchanged are encrypted end-to-end. These platforms provide the capacity for activist organizers to arrange group activity and communication, untraceable by spy actions. Here, activists may be forced to resort to a type of CMC which is not easily monitored or restrained by the regime. Therefore, adopting security and privacy issues associated with the use of the internet is efficient for activists to achieve their missions and maintain the holiness of the movements . Consequently, in the estimation of social movements, it was found that data, surveillance and privacy produce different possibilities and risk. Nonetheless, governments are an enemy to most movements as they might interfere or expose secret information that could hamper their activities; activists are then hiding behind technology to anonymize themselves. Big data can indeed improve movement strategies but its application results in privacy and manipulation issues. This means that the activists are always prepared for defending their technologies and operation in activating more activism in a rapidly surveillance harvesting technologies.THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON MOBILIZATION AND GLOBAL REACH The newest communication technologies have facilitated organization and coordination, providing build-up, description and sustenance of social movements and global mobilization. Modern movements that were only possibly active locally or regionally are now enabled by social networks and other digital resources, granting them the ability to engage globally on causes that are important to them. This has not only increased the rate and degree of mobilization but also encouraged the process of solidarity across national boundaries giving people from all over the world the ability to engage in sections and movements that appeal to them. Global Connectivity As noted, one of the central effects of digital technology on social movements is the possibility to get activists together across national borders. Before the digitization of media, movements promoted themselves from within individual locations and new information arrived mainly via printed newspapers or television and radio broadcasts. Where local movements, popular protest campaigns could earlier find few ears to hear them, today through social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, they get their messages to cross the boundaries within hours. Finally, hashtags, live streams, and viral post makes it possible for everyone from different parts of the world to be informed, engage in conversations that are as real time as possible and to show support regardless of how directly they may come into contact with such issues in their communities \cite{castells}. This means that activism now has gone global and it has formed solidarity and activist networks around the world. Case StudiesArab Spring: The Arab Spring remains one of the best examples of how technology, and particularly social media, can support mass mobilization and make a movement global. Also starting from the year 2010, this series of anti government protests across the Middle East and North Africa saw people use Face book and Twitter to organize, report police brutality and pass on messages of revolution . State censorship would have been a big problem but with the social media the activists had a way of passing this information as and when it happened and getting the attention of international media and support. It cannot be contained within individual countries because by uploading videos and pictures and live feeds it also became known internationally and it inspired other movements across the world to follow its lead \cite{2011}. Hong Kong Protests: The extradition laws protests that occurred in Hong Kong in 2019 are yet another powerful source of information about how technology contributes to its mobilization and activism against state repression. There is evidence that, for instance, the protestors could use the encrypted apps such as Telegram and Signal to coordinate their activities, avoid being watched by governments and police and arrested. Such selected media ensured that the activists were in a position to coordinate massive protests, impromptu dance offs, and people’s dispersal in seconds while the government could not monitor the communication. Since the above mentioned groups of apps were decentralized and encrypted in nature, the protest remained leaderless which hampered attempts by authorities to stop the protests. As in the Arab Spring, technology helped in taking the movement to the international level where people closely watched for updates, videos and huge support campaigns on social networks \cite{m2020}. Speed and Scale of MobilizationApart from breaking barriers to the international community, technology has also enhanced how fast and effective a movement can be. Normally, planning a large protest requires several days or even weeks because of responsibilities and poor means of communication. Currently, through social media and other internet-based tools, activists have an opportunity to disseminate calls to the action themselves or some essential practicalities, as well as share updates from the protest zone in real-time. Of all the avenues of social media communication, Twitter has become one of the most effective for rallying masses through the use of hashtags – which can become calls to action connecting thousands of people in a matter of minutes. For instance, the #BlackLivesMatter social media war threat which was a grassroots response to police brutality in a certain state in America expanded socially on a social media platform to garner protest, engagement, debate, and changes of policy \cite{j2016}. The ability to instantly gather vast crowds could not be possible anywhere else, and thus it has altered the way activism works. Operating from the comfort of their homes they can gather thousands of like minded people, movements can have a global reach in the blink of an eye, and protesters can respond to current events as they happen. Does it rise from a single person’s idea or is one planned, the technology offers the framework for holding a massive protest. This rapid mobilization draws attention to social problems and at the same time puts pressure on governments and institutions to respond more promptly than they used to do. Therefore, it is essential to agree that mobilization and global reach cannot be better term by technology. By showing how local uprisings have become globally connected events, such as the Arab Spring uprising and the Hong Kong protests, digital tools have been able to integrate people from across the world into a movement \cite{ghonim2012}. It has also made the co-ordination and organization of protest and demonstrations to an extent that it is now possible to start a movement that gains popularity with in record time. By developments of current technologies, the number and types of activism and social movements will only increase in the future and, therefore, serve to be influential in the world’s engagement and change. TECHNOLOGY's INFLUENCE ON MEDIA AND PUBLIC PERCEPTIONThe uses of technology have played a tremendous role within the social movements, and how those events are portrayed within the media. With the decline of media control on information delivery, people and movements can own their stories once they go digital as observed across activists and citizens. But these independent movements also have drawbacks like the provision of misleading details and prejudiced algorithms that distort the audience perception on these movements. The uses of technology have played a tremendous role within the social movements, and how those events are portrayed within the media. With the decline of media control on information delivery, people and movements can own their stories once they go digital as observed across activists and citizens \cite{Postill_2014}. But these independent movements also have drawbacks like the provision of misleading details and prejudiced algorithms that distort the audience perception on these movements. Citizen Journalism In this article, citizens’ media function as active witnesses of social movements empowered by smartphone and live-streaming applications. People no longer require professional equipment to record incidents as they happen; they record protests, police violence, and more. This shift has made media coverage accessible by offering real, first-person accounts which more often than not traditional media fails to capture. For example, during Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, many videos of brutality and peaceful protest occupied people’s feeds and formed the public’s opinion \cite{c2018}. Citizen journalism has also given a way by which the voiceless people can go and present their stories straight to the world without going through some of the popular media outlets. However, this raw continuity of this content creates a problem: It is difficult to determine the credibility of the videos, their authenticity and the source. Media Bias and Information Social media has become a double-edged sword in shaping public perception of social movements. While it amplifies marginalized voices and uncovers truths that mainstream media might overlook, it also serves as a breeding ground for misinformation. Media bias is prevalent on social platforms, where content can be manipulated or distorted to fit particular narrative. For instance, when selecting the material to be presented to the public the manner in which activists stage their protests may be misrepresented and people have bad opinions about those involved or even even turn against them. misinformation is easy to create and to share within social networks and once falsehoods have gone viral they are very difficult to dispel often being drowned out by the echo chamber effect \cite{culture}. This was evident during the Arab spring where, people were in doubt as to the ongoing protest and actions being conducted by government. In this respect, social movements are never fighting only for the right to be seen, but for the right to narrate themselves as well effect. This was evident during the Arab spring where, people were in doubt as to the ongoing protest and actions being conducted by government. In this respect, social movements are never fighting only for the right to be seen, but for the right to narrate themselves as well.Algorithmic Influence Social networks, which provide users with content, rely on behind-the-scenes mathematical equations to do that – and those equations hold a major part of forming perceptions in the public. Being promoted due to shared posts or hashtag, movements that attract people’s attention can reach new platforms as algorithms bring them to the attention of wider audiences. However, the same system has been known to demoralize activism. For instance, social media always recommends or advertises the kind of information that generates a lot of traffic, which has the saw of shaping extremism in this world \cite{reuters2020}. Consequently, men non-violent or less provocative forms of protest may find it hard to attract attention. Secondly, movements such as BlackLivesMatter and BlackGirlMovement, Facebook and Twitter have been accused of having algorithmic biases that diminish movements or certain types of voices. For instance, the #StopHateForProfit campaign demonstrated how the Facebook’s algorithmic rules enabled hate speech and disinformation, that weakened social justice. However, it is possible to get algorithms on the side of movements when activists are aware of how to game their content for relevance by employing viral strategies that counter hegemonic ones. Therefore, the shift experienced in the analysed use of technology regarding the media and specific perception has been incredible. Citizen journalism shifted media coverage into the people’s hand and has given the society the ability to share occurrences as they happen, though with the problem of authenticity. On the one hand, social medias give people the possibility to stay informed and find the truthful information concerning the nature of social movements, and on the other – it is very easy for those, who want to spread the fake information, to do so. Finally, algorithms take a powerful position in deciding which movements get to be viewed, let alone which ones are promoted and which ones are occluded. These dynamics must however be well managed by different social movements as they advance technology in the society to ensure their messages get through and are well understood; and most importantly, people have confidence and trust that the information they are receiving is credible. CHALLENGES AND CRITICISMS OF TECH-ENABLED ACTIVISMTechnology has become an inevitable part of social movements and revolutionized the system to a great extent, yet it has come up with some reasonable issues and controversies that lessen the efficiency of technological movements. Digital Divides The availability of technology is unequal around the world which leads to sharp divisions in engagement in social movements. Currently, due to poor internet connectivity, and poor technological facilities in many developing nations, people cannot access these digital forums and therefore are locked out of social and political processes. This digital divide means that existing inequalities are only amplified because people who cannot consistently turn to a strong Internet connection – much less a smartphone – are typically left out of the battle. For example, during the Arab Spring although social networks were instrumental in provoking demonstrations, many people from agricultural regions or those with low purchasing power did not own technological means to be involved. Thus, this inequality is potentially risky in activism, in the sense that it means only those within certain circles and with certain privilege maintain the control over what’s said. Slacktivism Second, another main criticism scholars have have made about technology-supported activism is slacktivism. It refers to people who follow, like, share or retweet items on social media without actively participating in physical actions for change. While these tend to be useful in escalating consciousness and the overbearing sentiment of people in a specific category, they do not bring about transformation. Some scholars state that slacktivism may give a person a perception that he or she has made a contribution, thereby discouraging the same person from going out to vote. In a worse case this complacency can easily make social movements lose their effectiveness because most people involved in such movements might begin finding easier ways of showing their support other than active participation like protests, volunteering services or lobbying for policy changes. CensorshipInformation that is sensitive or prohibited by government security is also inaccessible to social activists through these online networks. Government across the globe especially in Myanmar and India have used strategies like shutdowns, and blockages of social media, and other legal mechanisms to silence dissent and regulate the narrative about protest \cite{guardian2021}. Such attempts at the digital repression can seriously jeopardize the activists and their ability to coordinate and share information: they may be on their own – both, with their supporters, and the international public. For instance, during the recent protest in Myanmar in response to a military coup in 2021, the government had to shut down the internet so that protesters could not mobilize. Unlike the other types of censorship that make an attempt to stifle opinions that the authorities do not like, this kind of censorship also governments the ineffectiveness of digital activism as compared to state force \cite{jazeera2021}.Conclusion Therefore, although advances in technology have facilitated Social movements through availing a new form of organization and communication tools, it avails challenges that may reduce the efficiency of a Social movement significantly. It prevents many people from getting involved, activism can often be superficial, and governments might ban the very apps activists use to rally the masses. Overcoming these challenges is critical for making technology a part of activism that brings about real change while of promoting inclusion and strengthened voices from across the world. THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE New technologies offer opportunities as well as threats to the advance of social movements as they reshape in today’s society. The following are issues on new developments on future social movements which includes the advancement of technology and virtual reality (VR) activism and the possibilities it holds and problems it presents. Emerging TechnologiesArtificial Intelligence (AI) Utilizing optional data sets, AI is able to discern patterns of social movement that activists can use to their advantage. Automated tools can aid in monitoring social media sentiments and predicting public reactions, allowing movements to adapt their messaging in real-time. AI-driven bots can amplify messages and engage users, but they also raise concerns about misinformation and manipulation. BlockchainBlockchain technology provides a clear record of the funds raised within movements, and therefore increased confidence in making financial donations to a cause. The use of it can make identity to be more real and genuine, this we can see from activists who may need to be anonymous while showing support for a certain course or safeguard their information from spying.Smart contracts seem to offer the decentralized management of the decision-making processes in the movements allowing for grassroots participation.Virtual Reality (VR) ActivismImmersive Experiences VR has capabilities that enable people to connect with social causes more closely and muster more advanced levels of sympathy for the situation. Techniques of practicing protests or crises can improve preparedness and actually provoke deeper reaction and compel people to act. Organizing and Mobilization VR environments can facilitate virtual meetings and events, connecting activists from different parts of the world in real-time, regardless of geographical barriers. With the help of virtual reality social activism becomes more effective since it attracts younger generation with a help of a game. Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges Censorship: Even in the face of liberal democracy governments did not hesitate to apply restrictions to the emerging technologies to regulate and confine the narratives that are being disseminated to the public and prevent mobilization. Surveillance: Through the established high technology, the activists and what they are doing on the internet can be watched and that poses a threat to their safety and political identities. Surveillance: Through the established high technology, the activists and what they are doing on the internet can be watched and that poses a threat to their safety and political identities. Digital Divide: Technology inequalities might still persist at some point; therefore, barring such unfavorable categories from participating in technological activism \cite{e2012}. OpportunitiesGlobal Collaboration: New technologies can facilitate the restrictive collaboration across international frontiers of different movements by the same reasons. Deeper Engagement: With the help of technology activism becomes more engaging than before, and that makes the individuals useful to society. Decentralization: Blockchain and decentralized platforms will enable grassroots campaigns, and help liberate humanity from the power structures that allowed corrupt officials to easily maintain their positions. Conclusion The destiny and development of new technologies in the era of digital networking will form the future of social movements. As these advances promise many opportunities for participation, accumulation of support, and cooperative work, they also pose huge threats such as censorship and surveillance. Social activists will need to operate in this environment to fully realize the opportunities that technology offers while managing the costs that lie therein.CONCLUSION In this paper, we have explored the profound impact of technology on social movements, tracing its role from the pre-digital era to the current age of digital activism. Previous generations depended on conventional media instruments like newspapers and radio and today’s conventional media have been replaced by technologies, which support the formation and development of social movements. We talked about social networking sites, crowdsourcing, cyber activism and looked at leadership in the flow of the technological enabled movements. Moreover, we discussed issues like the digital divides, slacktivism, censorship and growing importance of surveillance \cite{foundation2020}. The role that technology plays in the process of social change cannot ideally be overemphasized. It has given more people space and means to speak out, mobilize quickly and demonstrate, and make parochial issues international. Today, the audiences are connected throughout the world, and activists can call for protests, fundraising, sharing information, and much more at incredible speed \cite{Postill_2014}.Looking ahead, social movements will not cease their formation and development and will be enhanced through using relevant technologies especially AI, blockchain, VR. These developments have a lot of potential for greater interactivity and more decentralised structure, but they have problems too, especially with privacy, control/surveillance and inequeal opportunities to join in. As the concept of activism continues to evolve because of technology, activists will need to possess adequate digital proficiency in owning those tools in an effort to bring about change.CONFLICTS OF INTERESTThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
