Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part F (2025)

This paper examines the transformative role of social networking sites (SNS) in reshaping the public sphere, arguing that they serve as potent platforms for resistance and democratic engagement. By analysing cases such as the Arab Spring, India Against Corruption, and recent movements like the Farmers' Protest (2020-2021) and the anti-CAA protests, the study highlights how SNS transcend traditional social divisions, enabling marginalized voices to challenge hegemony and mobilize collective action. Drawing on theories by Habermas, McLuhan, and Castells, the paper posits that SNS redefine political participation, blurring boundaries between private and public domains. While these platforms democratize discourse and amplify civic activism, they also face critiques regarding state surveillance, algorithmic bias, and the mediation of AI in social life. The study underscores SNS as dual-edged tools: fostering global solidarity and participatory democracy while navigating institutional and technological constraints. Ultimately, it contends that SNS are pivotal in contemporary social movements, reconfiguring power dynamics and expanding the horizons of public deliberation.