Answer

Introduction

In an era where protests begin on screens and spill onto streets, Gen Z has turned social media into both a force multiplier and a battlefield. Platforms accelerate mobilisation with unprecedented speed, yet simultaneously amplify misinformation and algorithmic chaos, forcing states to rethink control-based governance.

Duality of social media in Gen Z’s phygital activism

Mobilisation

• Rapid Mobilisation & Real-time Coordination: Social media collapses geographic barriers, enabling leaderless, instant mobilisation through physical + digital protests (QR codes, Google Sheets, live streams).
  Eg: Thailand’s pro-democracy rallies used Telegram maps to evade police barricades.
• Counter-narrative & Democratisation of Voice: Platforms allow students, women, and informal groups to challenge state-controlled mainstream media narratives.
  Eg: #MilkTeaAlliance by youth across Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand confronted nationalist propaganda.

Misinformation

• Emotional Virality: Activism thrives on emotion and misinformation spreads faster than verified content, hijacking movements.
  Eg: During Sri Lankan protests (2022), manipulated images created panic about troop deployment.
• Algorithmic driven Echo Chambers: Algorithms prioritise engagement over truth, reinforcing ideological bubbles that may lead to polarisation.
  Eg: Instagram reels amplified aggressive nationalism during CAA/NRC debates.
• Deepfakes & Identity Manipulation: AI tools produce fake protest speeches, weaponising distrust.
  Eg: Deepfake videos surfaced during multiple Indian state elections, confusing voters.

Limitations of State Suppression

• Shutdowns Cannot Halt Phygital Mobilisation: Gen Z bypasses internet bans using VPNs, AirDrop, and offline mesh networks.
  Eg: During the Myanmar coup (2021), student activists used Bridgefy (Bluetooth mesh messaging).
• Censorship Backfires (Streisand Effect): Deleting protest content draws more attention. Once censored, it spreads faster and wider, especially internationally.
  Eg: Despite blocking videos of the Women–Life–Freedom protests (2022), diaspora reposted on X/TikTok made them trend globally, increasing global scrutiny.
• Global Digital Solidarity Outpaces Local Control: Gen Z hashtags cross borders faster than governments can censor them, sustaining pressure even after domestic crackdowns.
  Eg: During the Palestine–Gaza protests, TikTok activism by youth in 40+ countries generated global mobilisation despite restrictions in many regions.
• Suppression Undermines State Legitimacy: Excessive blocking, takedowns, and arrests erode democratic credibility and trigger judicial interventions and civil backlash.
• Surveillance Drives Activists to Untraceable Platforms: Activists migrate to encrypted or decentralised platforms, making oversight more difficult for states.
  Eg: After surveillance reports during Hong Kong protests, activists abandoned WhatsApp for Signal and Telegram, reducing state visibility.

Suggestions for Sustainable, Collaborative Regulation Models

• Platform–State Misinformation Protocols: Joint monitoring dashboards for protest misinformation.
• Algorithmic Transparency & Audit Trail: Mandatory public reporting of takedowns and reach reduction.
• Digital Literacy as Long-term Immunity: Teach fact-checking and source verification.
  Eg: Finland reduced misinformation vulnerability through school curriculum.
• Civil Society Co-regulation Boards: Independent oversight to ensure platforms don’t over-comply with governments.
• Watermarking Deepfakes and Ethical AI: Traceability of synthetic content to preserve truth integrity.

Conclusion

Gen Z’s phygital activism proves that censorship cannot suppress collective will. Every takedown sparks louder digital solidarity. Sustainable regulation lies not in bans, but in co-governance, transparent algorithms, ethical AI norms, digital literacy, and platform accountability ensuring that technology strengthens democracy instead of destabilising it.

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