As free press withers in El Salvador, pro-government social media influencers grow in power

An expanding network of social media personalities is amplifying and echoing President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. That's creating an echo chamber as Bukele strengthens his grip and seeks to hold on to power. Influencers are flooding TikTok, YouTube and other social media with pro-Bukele content, rewarded with access to his government’s inner workings even as it’s cracked down on the free press. A 42-year-old populist who often wears a baseball cap backwards, Bukele worked years in political advertising. Social media was key to his rise to power five years ago. Along with a tough crackdown on crime, Bukele’s modern political messaging and charisma have won fans in the Central American nation, region and around the world.