Radicalization and distance between representatives and represented on online social networks a study of the content about the death of Fidel Castro

Abstract

This article examines how digital social networks, used to bring together representatives and represented, can also leave them distant. The most part of followers of political leaders tend to agree with their political stances, but when that does not happen, there are examples of radicalization. Not necessarily against other commentators, but against political leaders, because there are political-ideological disagreements and the "unexpected" positions. Based on the literature about omnilogue debate and the possibility of detachment between leaders and not leaders in the network, an analysis is made to identify how this occurs in everyday practice. We use the Iramuteq to help with a content analysis of the posts and comments made in seven institutional accounts on Facebook about death of Fidel Castro. The case is an example of how social networks can also to serve to move away representatives and represented when the content of conversation transcends the ideological "bubble".