Conference Agenda

The main objective of this study is to analyze how Taylor Swift's fan community, globally known as Swifties, leverages the power of social media to take political stances on gender issues. A qualitative research methodology was employed through thirteen semi-structured interviews to achieve this goal. The findings reveal that Taylor Swift and her artistic expressions play a fundamental role in how the Swiftie community responds to the issue of gender violence. This phenomenon is closely related to the identification process with the artist and the values she represents, manifesting in constructing parasocial relationships. Additionally, it was identified that the WhatsApp platform is used to organize among community members. At the same time, other social networks such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok serve as public platforms for addressing issues related to gender violence, highlighting the power of digital platforms in activism.

Social networks play a crucial role in shaping and sustaining cultural identity, particularly in caste-based societies like India. This study examines how caste identity is maintained and reinforced through social media networks, focusing on digital communities on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter (now X). Using social network analysis (SNA) and discourse analysis, we explore how caste-based cultural norms, traditions, and narratives are shared, debated, and transformed within online networks.

The study employs mixed methods, combining computational text analysis with in-depth interviews of Dalit and upper-caste users to understand the role of digital spaces in cultural preservation, resistance, and change. Prior research has highlighted the dual impact of digital platforms both as spaces for empowerment and as tools for reinforcing hierarchical social structures. Our findings indicate that while social media provides a platform for marginalized communities to assert their identity and challenge hegemonic narratives, it also fosters echo chambers that reinforce traditional caste hierarchies.

By analyzing hashtag activism, closed-group discussions, and influencer networks, we demonstrate how caste-based discourse is mediated in digital spaces and how it impacts social mobility and activism. This study contributes to the growing field of digital caste studies by mapping power dynamics within online communities and assessing their broader implications for social justice movements. The paper discusses the implications of these digital caste networks for social mobility, activism, and the future of caste-based social relations in India.

Keywords: Social media networks, caste identity, digital communities, cultural preservation, social mobility

The social movements literature has established that social networks are important for the micromobilization of individuals for participation in collective action and social movements (both for initial recruitment, and for ongoing participation.) However, there continues to be uncertainty and debate about the relative importance of virtual and non-virtual network ties to these processes. This study utilizes social survey data and Twitter data, from environmental movement participants, to examine the relationship of social media ties and organizational affiliation ties to environmental activism. These data are analyzed using social network centrality analysis and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis. We consider the extent to which these different types of ties are involved in unique pathways to activism. We briefly discuss the implications of our findings for social movement organizers. We also consider the implications of the changing nature of the social media landscape for the processes we examine.