Youth Political Mobilization in the Global South: Comparative Study of Online vs Offline Movements

This paper examines youth-led political mobilizations in the Global South between 2023 and 2025, focusing on the interplay between online and offline activism. Through a comparative analysis of six recent cases India’s Anti-CAA legacy protests, Nigeria’s #EndSARS aftermath, Indonesia’s #ReformasiDikorupsi, Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya, Senegal’s anti-Sonko conviction protests, Bangladesh’s July Revolution, and Kenya’s #RejectFinanceBill movement, the study evaluates how digital platforms shape agenda-setting, scale, and international visibility, while offline actions drive sustained pressure and political outcomes. Drawing on theories of connective action and digital repression, the findings show that while social media enables rapid narrative formation and transnational solidarity, durable change relies on established offline networks, coalition-building, and strategic engagement with institutions. The paper also identifies an emerging state response toolkit, platform throttling, targeted arrests, and hybrid propaganda that tests the adaptability of these movements. Policy recommendations are offered for civil society, governments, and technology platforms to support democratic participation and safeguard digital freedoms in politically volatile contexts.