Unlike many protests that have taken place in the region in recent years from Montenegro and Albania to Bosnia and Macedonia, which, although often triggered by similar issues such as corruption, institutional abuse, and the erosion of legal certainty, lacked strong visibility on social media, while the protests in Serbia are marked by a powerful digital presence. The development of social media, its widespread use, and the growing digital literacy of citizens have turned the virtual space into a battleground for truth, transparency, and, ultimately, the defense of the rule of law.
In contemporary society, social networks are no longer just tools for communication; they have become pillars of digital civic resistance and a new frontline in the fight for the rule of law. The protests in Serbia in 2024 are unfolding in a radically different media landscape compared to just a decade ago. The dominance of platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook has enabled images, videos, and messages from the protests to reach a global audience within minutes, often before being mentioned by official media outlets.
In a country where many media channels are under strong political influence, social networks serve as an authentic alternative. They allow citizens to bypass censored sources of information and gain an unfiltered view of protest realities: statements from the ground, live broadcasts, calls to gather, and documentation of police violence or abuse of power. This digital departure from the media blackout becomes an act of resistance in itself, a way to bring the truth to light without intermediaries or manipulation.
However, the role of social networks does not end with mere information sharing. Today, they enable citizens to act as active participants in holding institutions accountable, creating parallel public spheres where laws and rules are not only discussed but challenged. Digital platforms have made it possible to monitor political processes, decentralise information, and actively involve citizens in shaping public policies. The virality of a single post or hashtag can now trigger a wave of reactions, both domestically and internationally.
This digital dynamic also changes the very nature of protests. Demonstrations are no longer exclusively physical; they take place simultaneously on the streets and in virtual spaces. In this sense, pressure is no longer measured solely by the number of people in public squares but also by views, shares, and comments. This creates a new kind of social pressure, where authorities can no longer ignore or suppress events because the world is already watching.
Such a transformation of the public sphere also encourages a broader redefinition of the rule of law in the digital age. Legal guarantees still rest on the foundations of constitutions and institutions, but in the digital age, the public’s ability to document, share, and mobilise has become a powerful force for accountability. Social media campaigns and digital activism do not replace the rule of law, they amplify it by empowering citizens to speak out, organise, and demand justice in real time.
In this light, social media is no longer just a technical channel but an instrument of justice, equality, and accountability. It empowers citizens to amplify their voices, unite across physical distances, and demand what traditional institutions often try to ignore. In the age of digital interconnectedness, the fight for the rule of law is carried out both in steps on the street and in clicks online.
