Narcos “attack” social media not through cyber warfare in a traditional sense, but by leveraging the platforms for 

propaganda, recruitment, intimidation, and operational advantage while simultaneously using violence to censor and threatencitizen journalists and law enforcement. 

Propaganda and Intimidation

• Public Displays of Violence: Cartels post graphic photos and videos of interrogations and executions of rivals and victims to spread fear and assert dominance.
• Issuing Threats: They use posts to issue direct threats to law enforcement, government officials, rival gangs, and the general public. These often mirror traditional “narcomantas” (banners with messages) left in public places.
• Controlling the Narrative: Cartels aim to control how they are perceived by the public and news outlets. They may bribe or threaten journalists into favorable coverage or use their own accounts to spread disinformation about rivals and government officials.
• Recruitment: Social media platforms are used as a means to reach potential new members, often by showcasing wealth, power, and an exciting criminal lifestyle. 

Operational Use and Evasion

• Communication: Encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp are favored for internal communication and distributing violent content because they are less aggressively moderated than public platforms.
• Intelligence Gathering: Cartel members monitor social media, including law enforcement pages, to gather intelligence on police activities, movements, and to see if their illicit cargo has passed through undetected.
• “Burner” Accounts: Criminal groups use short-lived “burner” accounts to post highly violent content. Affiliates then quickly repost the content to wider audiences before the original accounts are flagged and removed by moderators.
• Cyber Operations: Some cartels have hired “narcohackers” and use cyber operations to gather information on targets and infiltrate government or commercial institutions. 

Silencing Opposition

• Violence Against Influencers & Journalists:Cartels have specifically targeted and murdered social media users, citizen journalists, and local news influencers who report on their activities or condemn their actions.
• Forcing Self-Censorship: The threats and violence create an environment of fear that leads to widespread self-censorship among traditional media and citizens, making social media an even more crucial (and dangerous) source of alternative information.