Bangladesh in Crisis: Social Media, Algorithmic Radicalization, and Mob Trials Around the 5 August 2024 Unrest

The August 5, 2024, unrest in Bangladesh marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of algorithmic radicalization, social media virality, and extrajudicial mob justice. This study critically investigates how digital platforms—particularly Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram—catalyzed public unrest, propagated disinformation, and amplified ideological polarization, leading to real-world violence and community persecution. Drawing on a mixed-method approach, including digital ethnography, in-depth interviews, and case study analysis, this research unpacks the algorithmic logic that fosters echo chambers and radical engagement. The study reveals how platform algorithms amplified polarizing narratives, suppressed dissenting views, and curated viral misinformation that spurred collective action without institutional oversight.Through examining notable case studies—such as viral fake news campaigns, group chats calling for street mobilization, and targeted community labeling—this research traces the transformation of online discourse into offline violence. It identifies key actors, including digital influencers, anonymous admin groups, and algorithmic trends, who played roles in shaping mass opinion and manipulating public emotion. The study also highlights how community vulnerability, youth digital engagement, and algorithmic amplification converged to produce a combustible socio-political landscape.Furthermore, this research critiques the role of data capitalism and digital surveillance, illustrating how both the state and platforms commodified user behavior and participation, while offering insufficient countermeasures to the spread of disinformation. The paper concludes by proposing a multidimensional intervention strategy involving algorithm transparency, civic education, and regulatory digital policy frameworks to counteract future algorithm-induced unrest. This work contributes to global discourses on algorithmic governance, digital extremism, and the socio-political consequences of platform economies in the Global South.