Making Actions Intelligible: Public Intelligibility of Global Digital Petitions in the Yu Menglong Case – De-religionizing the "Child of Light" Symbol

This conceptual and analytical study examines how digital petitions can translate localized events into globally intelligible public issues, using the Yu Menglong case on the Avaaz platform as an example. It analyzes how collective actions are transformed through language, symbolism, and discursive categories—from a case initially framed within entertainment culture to one situated in international public discourse grounded in universal values. The study employs conceptual and public discourse analysis without fieldwork or quantitative data. A key contribution is the introduction of “public intelligibility” as an analytical framework, illustrating how symbolic narratives, such as the “Child of Light,” can be de-religionized to foster cross-cultural understanding and ethical engagement. Findings demonstrate that digital petitions not only mobilize transnational participation but also restructure public discourse, maintain attention to unresolved events, and promote institutional accountability. This study highlights both academic and ethical significance in sustaining globally intelligible civic action.