DIGITAL NATIVES, POLITICAL ACTIVISTS: SOCIAL MEDIA'S INFLUENCE ON YOUTH MOBILIZATION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study investigates the role of social media in the political mobilization of youth in Pakistan, focusing on how digital platforms shape political awareness, participation, and collective action among young citizens. The research examines the opportunities and challenges social media presents for youth engagement in the country’s political sphere from 2020 to 2025. This qualitative study explores how social media shapes political mobilization among Pakistani youth, a demographic often labeled as digital natives. With over 60% of Pakistan’s population under 30, platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook have become central arenas for political discourse and activism. The research investigates how young people interpret, share, and act on political content online, and how these digital practices translate into offline mobilization. Thematic analysis reveals that social media empowers youth by bypassing traditional gatekeepers, enabling rapid collective action, and fostering new forms of political identity. However, participants also highlighted challenges, including misinformation, online polarization, and fear of state surveillance. The study argues that social media has redefined youth political agency in Pakistan, turning passive observers into active participants. It calls for policy frameworks that protect digital expression while promoting critical media literacy among youth. Findings indicate that social media significantly enhances youth political awareness and lowers barriers to participation, particularly during elections and social justice campaigns. However, its impact is moderated by factors such as digital literacy, algorithmic bias, state regulation, and the prevalence of online disinformation. While social media fosters decentralized mobilization and amplifies youth voices, it also creates polarization and vulnerability to manipulation. The study concludes that social media acts as both a catalyst and a contested space for youth political engagement in Pakistan. It recommends strengthening digital literacy programs, promoting responsible platform governance, and fostering inclusive online civic spaces to sustain constructive youth participation in democracy.

Keywords: Mobilization, technology, information, digital strategies, generation.