Digital Manifestation and National Strike in Colombia: An Analysis of the 2021 Social Protest Through Twitter (X) Trends in the City of Cali

Abstract

This article analyzes the digital manifestation during the National Strike in Colombia in 2021. It focuses on the dynamics developed from and around the city of Cali between April 28 and June 28, through trends on (X). The study highlights how Cali, the epicenter of both physical protest and online mobilization, utilized this network service not only to express opinions, document, and disseminate protest actions but also to articulate social demands, shed light on the state’s response, and strengthen resistance through users’ connective participation. In this context, a struggle for meanings and interpretations unfolded, often leading to confrontations involving humans and non-humans (bots and trolls), where algorithms played a significant role in shaping the climate of opinion. The methodology was qualitative and interpretive, incorporating elements of digital ethnography.