#YoSoy132, Social Media, and Political Organization
#YoSoy132, Social Media, and Political Organization
- Javier Contreras AlcántaraJavier Contreras AlcántaraDepartment of Political Studies and International Relations, El Colegio de San Luis
Summary
During the 2012 presidential election in Mexico, a movement arose that broke with the existing framework of political mobilizations. What began as a protest to call into question the past of one of the candidates became, with the assertion of their status as university students, a student and social movement that urged a discussion on the nature of Mexico’s democracy. The movement, called #YoSoy132 (#IAm132), became active on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, uniting young citizens from a generation that was beginning to distance itself from politics. Finally, following a series of debates on the path the country should take and the presidential election, the movement did not strengthen, but instead left behind a generation of young politicized citizens who now adopted new forms of socialization and organization for political action, which applied to further mobilizations. Since then, Mexico witnessed the emergence of new political players which have lifted the unease felt by the current political class.
Subjects
- History of Mexico
- 1991 and After
- Social History