This study examines digital forms of protest through the hashtag #instagramıgeriver, which rapidly became a trending topic on X following access restrictions imposed on Instagram in Turkey. Drawing on Manuel Castells’ network society theory and Christian Fuchs’ digital capitalism perspective, the research analyzes the structural dynamics of digital publicness and the systemic positioning of online actions. The theoretical framework demonstrates that digital media platforms are not merely technical communication environments but networked systems in which ideological, economic, and cultural power relations are continuously reproduced. Accordingly, #instagramigeriver constitutes more than a symbolic act of resistance against platform policies; it evolves into a form of digital public expression in which struggles over identity, visibility, and power become embodied within the network society. In the empirical section, 2,252 tweets were analyzed using NodeXL, yielding extensive findings regarding interaction patterns, network density, centrality scores, and sub-community structures. The results show that the network exhibits low density, fragmentation, and a high rate of self-loops. Moreover, a small number of central nodes largely control the flow of information, reflecting that—even though digital protests may appear to have a horizontally organized structure—visibility is in fact governed by a centralized logic. The network map reveals that most users limited their participation to sharing their own content, whereas a small group of highly interactive actors shaped the direction of information circulation. In conclusion, this research demonstrates that digital protest practices simultaneously express the resistance identity conceptualized by Castells and operate within the algorithmic and economic constraints highlighted by Fuchs. The #instagramıgeriver case illustrates that digital publicness can be shaped through broad participation; however, due to structural inequalities, its capacity to form a strong field of collective action remains limited.