# Spain's Partido Popular Adopts Aggressive AI-Driven Social Media Strategy

The opposition party shifts toward viral digital content to capture algorithmic attention.

- **Source:** [ABC España – Portada](https://www.abc.es)
- **Published:** 2026-11-08
- **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics)
- **Original article:** <https://www.abc.es/espana/genova-baja-barro-algoritmo-centra-redes-sociales-20261027011946-nt.html>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a28296f1-7e50-48ad-8927-63b7f9919ccf

## Strategic Digital Pivot

The Partido Popular has abandoned its traditional institutional formality to embrace aggressive social media tactics. By utilizing AI-generated videos featuring political rivals, the party aims to hijack algorithmic attention. This shift marks a departure from the cautious communication style previously championed by leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo during his tenure.

## Targeting New Demographics

Experts suggest this radical change is a calculated move to reach younger voters and undecided citizens. By adopting a disruptive tone, the party seeks to compete with other political groups that have historically dominated the digital space. The goal is to remain relevant in an environment where moderation no longer mobilizes.

## Professionalizing Digital Teams

Political community managers have evolved from simple messengers into high-level strategists. They must now possess deep knowledge of platform-specific architectures, tailoring content differently for Facebook, TikTok, and X. This professionalization, which gained momentum in 2015, treats digital presence as a core pillar of the party's overall electoral strategy and structure.

## The Power of Persistence

Consultant Unai Burguete notes that memes alone cannot build long-term ideology. Instead, the party employs a strategy of sustained, subtle messaging over at least six months to influence public perception. This persistent approach mirrors tactics observed in the 2024 United States elections, focusing on repetitive, rapid-fire content to shape voter views.

## Horizontal Campaigning Tactics

Research indicates that political messages are more effective when users do not immediately perceive them as partisan propaganda. By utilizing third-party accounts to replicate content, the party creates a horizontal flow of information. This method helps bypass the natural skepticism voters often feel toward official party-led communication and digital narratives.

## The Competitive Landscape

The Partido Popular is entering a digital ecosystem where Vox has held a significant advantage for over a decade. Vox utilizes a network of satellite accounts and content creators to amplify its discourse. This structure acts as an ideological funnel, making it difficult for casual users to identify the original source.

## Algorithmic Emotional Triggers

Studies from the PLEDGE project show that platforms often steer users toward radical positions by prioritizing emotional content. Vox and newer actors like Alvise Pérez have mastered the art of connecting with feelings of pride and indignation. These algorithms reward high-engagement, pasional content, which fundamentally alters how political discourse is consumed.

## Risks of Political Satire

While Feijóo defends the use of AI-labeled satire as a tool for engagement, experts warn of potential consequences. The reliance on memes risks hollowing out political substance, potentially sidelining detailed electoral programs. As the election approaches, the battle for votes is increasingly being fought through mobile screens rather than traditional debates.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.abc.es/espana/genova-baja-barro-algoritmo-centra-redes-sociales-20261027011946-nt.html — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
