Power Shifts in Latin American Political Communication: Between the Weakening of the Media and the Ecologies of Digital Resistance

Abstract

This editorial examines the transformation of political communication in Latin America in the wake of the expansion of digital platforms and the decline of traditional media. It argues that disintermediation allows political leaders to communicate directly with audiences, thereby reinforcing populist dynamics, polarization, and attacks on the press. At the same time, the economic crisis and the crisis of credibility facing journalism are undermining its ability to serve as a watchdog for democracy and are particularly weakening local journalism. Of particular note is the emergence of digital resistance movements driven by feminist groups, social organizations, and citizen collectives that use social media to raise awareness of their demands and build communities of action. However, these platforms also perpetuate inequalities, algorithmic dependence, and reactionary discourse. Finally, the text offers a geopolitical critique of the power of technology corporations and the new forms of domination associated with digital capitalism and the global technological infrastructure.