New media & social networks: A contemporary public sphere for social change Misra Sutapa Doctoral Scholar, Department of Mass Communication, Assam Central University, Silchar, Assam, India Online published on 27 September, 2019. Abstract New media and new communication technologies exert tremendous influence and have brought varied social, political and cultural changes around the globe. New Media has created a new communication environment in the cyberspace where social networks can be formed and mobilized to bring democratic transitions. The participatory social media provides an open platform where the users can address important issues and have their voices heard thereby bringing changes in the society. This new public sphere possesses the potential to shape the public discourse and opinions. Further, New Media are viewed as instruments of social change and are utilized as platforms to organize mass protests and mass movements, accelerating the process of transforming societies. Socio-political discourse, debate, and discussion continue in public forums of social media, thus making a responsible use of the virtual and vibrant cyberspace. In fact, hashtags have become powerful tools in the cyberspace to start digital movements, spearhead protests and propel social change. Today, hashtags rule the Internet and garner a huge following, providing increased support for causes. This way, the digital revolution fuels the real world revolution. There develops hype on the social media platforms which acts as a contributory factor in putting pressure on the authorities and challenge the status quo. The social media influence events in the society which ushers a transformation. India has witnessed many such incidents which reiterate that the New Media can bring democratic revolutions. This paper, therefore, tries to explore how the contemporary New Media and social networks act as a new public sphere to mobilize and unite people to effect societal change. It also sheds light on how the trending hashtags call for action in this digital age. Top Keywords Hashtag, New Media, Public Sphere, Social Change, Social Media, Social Networks. Top |