Social Movements and Digital Appropriation in Latin America and the Caribbean

The article explores the dynamics of digital appropriation by social movements in Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights how, in recent decades, information and communication technologies have transformed the political and social landscape of the region, providing new opportunities for organization, mobilization, and citizen participation. These digital tools have provided social movements with new forms of dissemination of information, allowing the creation of networks of solidarity and resistance at the local, national, and even international levels. Through strategies such as cyberactivism and cyberfeminism, social movements have used digital platforms to challenge the status quo and promote social justice. However, the challenges and obstacles they face, such as digital divides, online censorship, and the influence of extremist anti-rights groups, are also addressed. Despite these challenges, social movements have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and leverage digital tools to pursue their goals of social justice and political change. The transformative potential of digital appropriation is highlighted, reflecting the region’s socioeconomic, political, and cultural realities. The diversity of approaches and strategies social movements use shows the region’s complexity and richness of social struggles. Addressing structural inequalities and promoting collective action to build more just and equitable societies is ultimately emphasized. O presente artigo explora a dinâmica da apropriação digital pelos movimentos sociais na América Latina e nas Caraíbas. Destaca como, nas últimas décadas, as tecnologias de informação e comunicação transformaram o panorama político e social da região, proporcionando novas oportunidades de organização, mobilização e participação cidadã. Essas ferramentas digitais proporcionaram aos movimentos sociais novas formas de disseminação de informação, permitindo a criação de redes de solidariedade e resistência nos níveis local, nacional e até internacional. A partir de estratégias como o ciberativismo e o ciberfeminismo os movimentos sociais têm usado plataformas digitais para desafiar o statu quo e promover a justiça social. Por outro lado, o artigo também aborda os desafios e obstáculos que os movimentos sociais enfrentam, como as clivagens digitais, a censura online e a influência de grupos extremistas. Apesar desses desafios, os movimentos demonstram uma capacidade notável de adaptação, tirando partido das fer