Algorithmic Bias in Activism: How Social Media Shapes Crisis Movements in South Asia

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-581-2_16How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Algorithmic Bias; Activism; Crisis Movements; South Asia; Social Media

Abstract

In recent years, social media has become a crucial platform for crisis-driven activism, enabling rapid information sharing and collective mobilization during critical moments. While these platforms provide spaces for public participation, the algorithms operating behind them often determine which voices gain visibility and which remain overlooked. This study examines how algorithmic bias influences crisis-driven activism in South Asian countries, particularly Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh, where digital movements increasingly shape political, social, and humanitarian discussions. To explore public perceptions, a survey was conducted using Google Forms to collect primary data from participants. The questionnaire investigated how individuals interact with activism-related content and how algorithmic filtering may influence their understanding of ongoing movements. Prior to distribution, the survey instrument was reviewed and tested by faculty members and senior students to ensure clarity and reliability. Preliminary findings suggest that algorithms tend to prioritize highly engaging or sensational content, which can distort activist messaging and limit the visibility of marginalized perspectives. These results highlight the complex role of algorithms in digital activism, demonstrating that they can both amplify and constrain activist efforts. The study therefore underscores the importance of greater algorithmic transparency to ensure that digital activism in South Asia remains fair, inclusive, and impactful during times of crisis.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Safiha Ayman
AU  - Md. Zahid Hasan
AU  - Md. Asif Kamal
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/30
TI  - Algorithmic Bias in Activism: How Social Media Shapes Crisis Movements in South Asia
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Challenges and Trends in Arts and Social Sciences (ICCTASS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 192
EP  - 208
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-581-2_16
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-581-2_16
ID  - Ayman2026
ER  -