Digital Activism and Public Policy Transformation : An Analysis of Social Media Influence During Sri Lanka's 'Aragalaya' Protest Movement in 2022. = 2022년 스리랑카 ‘아라갈라야（Aragalaya）’ 시위 운동에서 소셜 미디어가 공공정책에 미친 영향

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines how social media, public protests, government policy responses, and political change intersected during the 2022 public uprising （Aragalaya） in Sri Lanka. It explores how both protesters and state authorities used social media as a tool for communication, coordination, and response. The research also focuses on the challenges faced during the protests, including issues related to information flow, state surveillance, and public safety. In the post-Aragalaya period, the traditional dominance of mainstream media in Sri Lanka was challenged. Social media platforms and citizen journalism emerged as powerful political tools, contributing to increased civic awareness and strengthening public understanding of civil rights. Using a snowball sampling method, data were collected from 100 participants who contributed to the Aragalaya protest movement via online surveys and interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used. Quantitative data covered aspects such as the age level and educational backgrounds of participants, the level of participation in protests, the number of arrests, and property damage. Qualitative data focused on the challenges and issues faced by participants during the protests, government responses, policy changes that occurred, proposed solutions, and personal opinions. Accordingly, this research seeks to explore the long-term impact of social media on Sri Lankan politics and its role in shaping political participation, civic engagement, and democratic accountability.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. Chapter Introduction 1
• 1.1. Background 1
• 1.2. Research Problem 4
• 1.3. Research Objectives 4
• 1.4. Importance of the Research 5
• Ⅱ. Chapter Literature Review 8
• 2.1. Theoretical Framework 8
• 2.2. What is Social Media 8
• 2.3. The Role of Social Media in Social Mobilization / Social Networking 9
• 2.4 Social Movement Theories Including Social Media 10
• 2.5. The Role Of Social Media In Policy And Political Change (Case Studies) 13
• 2.6. The Direction Of Online Protest Movements In Sri Lanka 17
• Ⅲ. Chapter - The Protest Movement In Sri Lanka 19
• 3.1. Failed agricultural and foreign exchange policies 19
• 3.2. Economic mismanagement 20
• 3.3. Foreign debt assistance 20
• 3.4. Nepotism, corruption, and inefficient governance 21
• 3.5. Social Media And Policy Changes 29
• 3.6. Research Gap 33
• IV. Chapter – An Empirical Analysis 34
• 4.1. Nature of the Research 34
• 4.2. Sources Used for the Research 34
• 4.3. Field of Study 34
• 4.4. Research Sample And Data Collection Method 36
• 4.5. Data Analysis 37
• 4.6. Age Level 38
• 4.7. Education Level 39
• 4.8. Occupation 39
• 4.9. District of Residence 40
• 4.10. Daily Frequency of Social Media Use 42
• 4.11. Frequency of Social Media Use during the Aragalaya 43
• 4.12. The Role of Social Media in the Mobilization of People 45
• 4.13. The Effectiveness of Using Social Media 46
• 4.14. Social Media as a Tool to Maintain Communication 47
• 4.15. The Impact of Social Media on Inducing Policy Changes 47
• 4.16. Challenges and Concerns 49
• 4.17. Open Questions 51
• 4.18. Discussion 62
• Ⅴ. Chapter – Conclusion and Suggestions 65
• References 73
• Attachments 78
• 국문초록 84