Social Networks and Their Role in the Transformation of Ukrainian Society during the 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the role of social networks in the transformation of information and communication practices and sociocultural processes in Ukrainian society during the 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity. Social networks are examined as a factor in shaping public consciousness, civic mobilization, and new models of social interaction under conditions of socio-political crisis. The methodological framework of the study is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, and an interdisciplinary approach; it employs the analysis of scholarly publications, problem-chronological, comparative, and sociocultural methods, as well as elements of digital media discourse analysis. The article systematizes the mechanisms of influence of social networks on public consciousness and mobilization processes, particularly through information dissemination, public discussion formation, coordination of protest actions, and symbolic mobilization. Special attention is paid to the use of hashtags, thematic communities, live streams, and interactive content, which facilitated the involvement of broad segments of the population in socio-political processes. It is substantiated that during the Revolution of Dignity social networks transformed from tools of private communication into a key communicative resource of civil society, influencing the formation of collective identity, civic solidarity, and digital cultural memory. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of social networks as a factor in the transformation of information and communication practices and sociocultural processes in Ukrainian society during the Revolution of Dignity.