Already in the 1980s and 1990s, scholars such as Jesús Martín Barbero, Néstor García Canclini, and Beatriz Sarlo theorized the growing influence of the rapidly expanding mass media industry throughout Ibero-America. As radio and television proliferated during the second half of the twentieth century, various nations experienced the struggles of left- and right-wing governments, democratic and authoritarian regimes, capitalist and socialist economic policies, center and periphery politics. These struggles still resonate within contemporary media frameworks throughout the region.

While national telenovelas capture the imaginations of millions, Netflix disseminates global products, and grassroots community networks amplify marginalized voices on social media platforms, alongside corporate advertisements. Undeniably, consumerism now spans the entire region. In some ways, social media platforms create broad avenues for participation and engagement, ushering in a new era of media consumption and production. In other ways, these platforms pose dangers for democracy and representation, as outside influencers, corporate conglomerates, and independent media outlets shape not only the narratives disseminated but also the contours of political debate and the collective consciousness of Latin America in the twenty-first century.

The present volume seeks to uncover the complexity of these phenomena from historical and present-day perspectives, including policies and practices, scales of identification, voices and language varieties, audiences, advertising, and social media.