“The Digitalization of Politics: Citizens and Political Parties. Spain in Comparative Perspective” (DIGI_POL coordinated) and “The Digitalization of Politics: Political Parties and Social Media. Spain in Comparative Perspective” (DIGI_POL1 subproject)
Period: November 2024 – December 2027
Funding source: “Generation of Knowledge” 2023 Programme, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Reference number: PID2023-150741OB-C31
Project coordinator: Rosa Borge (leader of the CNSC, UOC-TRÀNSIC) – Principal Investigator.
Participants in the project: Joan Balcells Padullés (GADE, UOC-DIGIT), Albert Padró-Solanet (GADE, UOC-DIGIT), University of Salamanca (Carolina Plaza-Colodro), University of Bolonia (Antonella Seddone), University of València (Oscar Barberà), University of Groningen (Marc Esteve), Jorge Bronet (CNSC, UOC- TRÀNSIC), Adrià Mompó (CNSC, UOC- TRÀNSIC), David Carbonell (CNSC, UOC- TRÀNSIC and UAB), Inés Montoya (CNSC, UOC- TRÀNSIC), Tatiana Fernández (CNSC, UOC- TRÀNSIC), Giulia Sandri (EU Liaison Office of the Université libre de Bruxelles).
Summary:
We examine the multiplatform usage (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, Bluesky, LinkedIn) by the five main Spanish political parties and by Spanish citizens, combining social media analysis with survey data.
Our research is guided by the following questions:
- Which platforms are most used, and most often used together, by parties, MPs, and citizens? What are the distinctive partisan social media styles, and which parties dominate on different platforms?
- What is the partisan social sphere formed by the followers and followings of the main partisan accounts (official party and MP accounts)?
- Who are the influencers and brokers in the partisan social sphere?
- How does the same partisan message circulate across different social media platforms?
- What do intra-party and inter-party interactions look like?
- What is the overall quality of political debate on these networks?
In addition, a comparative analysis will also be conducted with Italy, drawing on surveys of social media use (such as the EU People survey) and focusing on the networks of organizations and individuals that finance and sponsor parties on Facebook in both countries.
Ultimately, the knowledge generated will contribute to a deeper understanding of the tensions between partisan strategies for controlling digital platforms in a multiplatform environment and the emergence of new leaders, topics, and generations within the digital public sphere.
Project News
International Project Workshop, April 16–17, 2026. UOC, Barcelona.