Short abstract:

By examining civilian agency in war, this research uncovers complexities in depicting vulnerability amidst transnational solidarity efforts and the utilization of digital platforms. It queries the impact of digital war monitoring on global decisions via situated knowledge practices.

Long abstract:

Mediatized war events showcase the active participation of civilians in shaping warfare, expand their understanding of warfare, and allow public access to battlefield images through personal commentary and visuals, while the evolving capabilities of digital warfare blur the distinction between conventional and digital warfare and influence social reality (Boichak and Hoskins, 2022).

While existing research extensively explores the influence of digital platform infrastructures on everyday experiences, including times of conflict and crisis (e.g., Käihkö, 2020; Horbyk, 2022; Ford, 2022), constructing standardized narratives of vulnerability and disaster becomes a notable challenge. This challenge revolves around the growing intersection between transnational solidarity efforts and practices of care and resistance, and the use of digital platforms for military purposes and geopolitical influence.

My research aims to uncover dependencies and intersections within digital war contexts by examining the effectiveness and the influence of digital war monitoring on international decision-making processes, including humanitarian aid distribution and content censorship on digital platforms.

This exploration scrutinizes digital solidarity practices as critical components of societal resilience, with the goal of fostering social cohesion, collective bonds, and prosocial behavior (Carlsen, Gårdhus, and Toubøl, 2022). This concept, integral to resilience, facilitates both individual and collective access to resources in times of crisis (Tomkova, 2020; Lai, She, and Ye, 2019). This research enhances our understanding of the global implications of digital war monitoring by delving into the effects of digital eye-witnessing practices, focusing on localized practices in Ukraine and their repercussions and responses from global audiences.