Social Media and the Transnational Construction of Collective Identity in Contemporary New Social Movements : Swaralipi Sengupta
Politics & Society Social Media and the Transnational Construction of Collective Identity in Contemporary New Social Movements Digital Activism Beyond Borders By Swaralipi Sengupta | July 2025 T he emergence of social media has fundamentally transformed the nature of political participation, shifting collective action from geographically bounded movements to digitally networked activism. Contemporary new social movements no longer depend solely on physical proximity or formal organisational structures to mobilise supporters. Instead, digital platforms enable individuals separated by national borders to communicate, coordinate, and participate in shared political struggles in real time. Through hashtags, viral images, livestreams, and digital storytelling, activists increasingly construct a sense of belonging that transcends territorial boundaries. Introduction This transformation can be understood through the concept of collective identity , ...
