Why social media has become an election issue in Brazil’s presidential race
Summary
Brazil’s presidential race between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro is closely contested, with social media playing a major role in campaigning. Questions have arisen about whether social media platforms, especially those owned by Meta, treat the candidates fairly, as political ad spending on these sites has increased sharply.Key Facts
- The final round of Brazil’s presidential election is between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
- Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is accused of favoring Bolsonaro by suppressing Lula’s content.
- Political campaign spending on Meta’s platforms reached about 288 million Brazilian reais ($57 million) in 2026, twice the amount from 2022.
- Over 76% of Brazilian voters now get their news online, making social media key for political campaigns.
- Online influencers from both right and left politics have gained power and won seats in Brazil’s parliament.
- The shift to online campaigning began with President Jair Bolsonaro’s 2018 election, who is Flavio Bolsonaro’s father.
- Jair Bolsonaro’s social media use included spreading false claims about election fraud after he lost in 2022.
- Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace on January 8, 2023.
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