The rise of pro-government social media influencers in El Salvador's shrinking free press

As El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele cracks down on the press, his government has embraced a network of social media influencers who act as a megaphone for his populist agenda. These influencers flood social media with pro-Bukele content, creating an informational echo chamber and drowning out independent media. Bukele's government has constructed a sophisticated communications machine, including fake social media accounts and harassment of critics. The influencers, many of whom earn significant sums of money, help shape the narrative in subtle ways, following a playbook increasingly used by autocrats worldwide. This erosion of press freedom poses a risk to democracy in El Salvador and sets a dangerous precedent for other leaders in the region.