Hashtags and Hierarchies: Exploring the Influence of Social Media Campaigns on Caste Equality Movements

Abstract Caste has historically structured Indian society, dictating access to resources, status, and dignity. The rise of digital technologies, particularly social media, has reconfigured how caste identities are expressed, contested, and mobilised. This paper examines the dynamic intersection of caste and online spaces in India, focusing on both the empowering possibilities and the persistent challenges that marginalised communities face. With the help of sociological theories of the public sphere, counter-publics, and network society, the study analyses how online platforms enable marginalized groups to articulate grievances, challenge dominant narratives, and mobilise for social justice. Case studies such as Rohith Vemula, the Hathras rape case, and digital activism surrounding Bhima-Koregaon highlight the role of social media in amplifying subaltern voices. While digital spaces provide new avenues of visibility and resistance, they remain deeply entangled with offline hierarchies. Digital divides restrict access for many rural and poor Dalit users, while algorithmic biases and caste-based online harassment reproduce structural inequalities. This paper argues that online spaces simultaneously democratise and constrain struggles against caste oppression. The findings contribute to debates on caste, technology, and democracy, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive policies, algorithmic accountability. Keywords Caste, Social Media, Digital Activism, Dalit Studies, Online Public Sphere, India, Algorithmic Bias, Counter-publics, Subaltern