In Argentina, as in a good part of the world, social networks constitute the privileged place of political communication, cultural dispute and the construction of collective identities.
Contemporary democracy is no longer played only in classical institutions – congress, parties, unions – but also in an increasingly decisive space, the digital public sphere. In Argentina, as in a good part of the world, Social networks constitute the privileged place of political communicationthe cultural dispute and the construction of collective identities.
The study of IPAR, Villarreal, Cuesta and Wegelin (2022) shows that this digital field is not a mere mirror of society, but A device that amplifies, radicalizes And, in many cases, Normalize hate speeches. Under the government of Javier Milei, this phenomenon acquires an unprecedented centrality, since the president himself built his political leadership from television and then from Twitter (today X), Tiktok and Instagram. His government not only uses these platforms as communication channels, but organizes much of their legitimacy around them.
The centrality of networks in libertarian policy
Argentine libertarism is, to a large extent, a digital phenomenon. Milei became known as “The lion” in television programs of entertainment, but Its political consolidation occurred in social networkswhere he knew how to translate complex economic slogans into memes, short phrases and performative gestures.
The 2023 campaign showed the ability of the ruling party to mobilize digital resources To challenge especially a young people disenchanted with politics traditional. Viral videos, live broadcasts and aggressive messages against “caste” became effective electoral weapons. However, that same strategy installed a communicational style that privilege disqualification over deliberation, The emotional impact over rational argumentation.
Hate and polarization speeches
The Hate speeches They are complex definitions. Ipar et al. (2022) propose to understand them as expressions that dehumanize to certain groups, They seek to exclude them of the political community and legitimize violence against them. In the Argentine digital sphere, these speeches recurring against:
- Social and piquetera organizations, presented as “Parasites” or “Planeros”.
- Feminists and groups of sexual diversity, accused of “ideologizing” society.
- State workers, considered part of the “breed”.
- Critical means and opposition journalists, indicated as “Enemies of the people”.
The constant repetition of these categories not only Degrada the public debatebut also produces effects materials, legitimates the rights cut, Justify repression of protest and dehumaniza to entire sectors of the population.
The post -truth and weakening of deliberation
Another prominent feature of the digital sphere is the Fake News proliferation, conspiracy and narrative theories based on intense emotions. As Ipar et al. (2022), the phenomenon of Postatality implies that The veracity of the facts loses relevance Faced with the ability of a message of mobilizing identities.
The government of Milei has used this logic on multiple occasions, installing simplifiers on the economy (“Inflation is always and at all times a monetary phenomenon”) or politics (“the caste is responsible for all the evils of the country”). Effectiveness Of these narratives It does not lie in its coherence empirical, but in its symbolic power. The result is a Democratic deliberation weakeningsince citizens do not argue about verifiable facts, but about polarized stories.
Effects on democracy
The Standardization of hate speeches In the digital sphere it generates several pernicious effects for Argentine democracy:
- Erosion of plurality: Platform algorithms reinforce information bubbles, reducing contact with different points of view.
- Hostility climate: Permanent aggressiveness deteries the participation of moderate voices, which prefer to retire from public discussion.
- Legitimation of violence: Constant stigmatization enables the use of state force against specific social sectors.
- Institutional weakening: When the president and his officials use networks to Attack the Congressto Justice OA Human Rights Organizationsundermine the credibility of these institutions.
Conclusion
The digital public sphere is not a neutral space, but a dispute field crossed by power relations. In current Argentina, the government of Milei has turned social networks into a political consolidation tool, but at the cost of deepening polarization, normalizing hatred and degrade democratic deliberation.
As Ipar et al. (2022), democracy requires spaces where plurality is possible and where differences can be processed without violence. If social networks continue to function as hate resonance boxes, Argentine democracy will face an even greater deterioration of its coexistence conditions.
Doctor of Political Science, Master in International Economic Policy, Director of Do.com.ar, Canal Youtube: @Drpabbab
Source: Ambito
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