WhatsApp, Polarization, and Non-Conventional Political Participation: Chile and Colombia Before the Social Outbursts of 2019

Chile and Colombia are two South American countries with political economic similarities that, during 2019, faced strong social outbursts, which translated into massive street protests the weakening of their governments. Using data collected in period immediately prior to start this unrest, study seeks establish role played by strong-tied media—which generally homogeneous, formed close people, a high potential for influencing members—in three phenomena associated conflict: (a) perceived polarization, (b) affective (c) non-conventional participation. To estimate influence, information through surveys 2017 2018 was used within framework Comparative National Elections project. In both countries, probabilistic samples were employed do face-to-face interviews over 1,100 people. results show that use media ties, specifically WhatsApp, tends be related studied phenomena: polarization An interaction is also observed between WhatsApp ideology amplifies degree participation one or studied. We conclude arguing dual phenomenon can problematic democracy, since polarized groups (or have perception there ideological elite) tend consider position rest citizens illegitimate, thus undermining collective problem-solving.