Digital activism and legal change: exploring the opportunities and challenges of virtual mobilisation for legal reform in Latin America

This article examines how social media has reshaped social mobilisation in Latin America while also creating new challenges for the equitable use of digital spaces. In Chile, the 2019 Estallido Social demanded systemic reforms and a new constitution through campaigns such as the call to action #EvasiónMasiva (Mass Evasion) and #ChileDespertó (Chile Woke Up); in Colombia, the 2021 National Strike protested structural inequality through #ParoNacional; and in Argentina, the Women's Movement advanced the legalisation of abortion through #AbortoLegalYa. While previous research has focused on the role of digital platforms in amplifying activism, there is less in-depth analysis of the specific challenges faced by activists in the Latin American context. This study focuses primarily on the social movement in Chile between 2019 and 2022, exploring how activists navigate both the advantages and limitations of digital platforms. Drawing on secondary sources and semi-structured interviews with activists, it shows that grassroots movements continue to face unequal access to resources and digital expertise compared with corporate and political campaigns, while also having to respond to misinformation. This research contributes to ongoing discussions about the intersection of technology, social movements and legal change, highlighting the crucial role of digital platforms in contemporary grassroots activism.