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

As President Nayib Bukele cracks down on the press in El Salvador, 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. The government has constructed a sophisticated communications machine, including fake social media accounts and propaganda videos, to control the narrative. Critics warn that this erosion of press freedom and the rise of disinformation pose a significant risk to democracy in El Salvador.