Social networks and the transformation of public opinion in Colombia in the context of covid-19

Abstract

Currently political communication strategies cannot do without the use of social networks in the exercise of government, in fact, these have become ideal scenarios that allow the massive dissemination of content that contributes to creating public opinion. In Colombia, as in the rest of the world, the management of social networks is a priority when it comes to positioning issues of public interest, and even more so, in the unexpected scenario of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 in where the contents have multiplied and more people have become dependent on the information that circulates on social networks. The problem is that, the use of the networks, being so important in the political life of the country, has served so that figures of public life legitimize unethical behaviors against those who dare to question power, thus facilitating the polarization of the country of a irresponsible way. Precisely, the purpose of this work is to analyze, on the one hand, the impact of the political polarization promoted by some Colombian government officials through the "wineries" with which it is intended to discredit the opposition through blatantly false or truthful content. half and on the other, examine how President Iván Duque took advantage of social networks and the media in the context of the pandemic to exercise more effective communication in line with the political line of the ruling party.