DIGITAL SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND INEQUALITIES IN THE NETWORK SOCIETY

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the social transformations occurring in the digital age, with an emphasis on new forms of inequality and the role of digital social movements in the context of globalization and neoliberalism. Initially, it addresses the transition to the network society, based on Manuel Castells’ theories, exploring how digital technologies reconfigure social, economic, and cultural interactions. Next, it discusses the concept of digital inequalities and social exclusion, drawing on studies by Jan van Dijk and Mark Warschauer, highlighting how unequal access to information technologies reinforces existing social inequalities. The research also investigates the emergence of digital social movements and networked activism, analyzing their dynamics and strategies in light of contributions from Zeynep Tufekci and Manuel Castells. Emblematic cases such as the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter are examined, evidencing the impact of digital technologies on social mobilization and the promotion of change. Finally, it discusses the impact of neoliberalism and globalization on contemporary social structures, including the precariousness of work and recent economic crises, grounding the discussion in the theories of David Harvey and Saskia Sassen. The methodology adopted is qualitative in nature, based on a critical literature review of the main sociological theories related to the theme. The results point to the need to understand the complexity of social dynamics in the digital age and recognize the importance of digital social movements in combating new forms of inequality. It is concluded that sociology plays a fundamental role in analyzing and understanding contemporary social phenomena, contributing to the construction of a more just and inclusive society in the era of globalization and digital technologies.