Movie clips show how security forces brutally beat down flying protesters, dragging seemingly inanimate people along the ground and mercilessly abusing them.

Social media has been filled with pictures and videos showing how security forces use violence against protesters in Chile. According to Orla Vigsø, professor of media and communication science at the University of Gothenburg, social media has become a significant tool for mobilizing in the event of protests or conflicts.

- Above all, vivid images are extremely suggestive and have a great impact. One could say that it has become an integral part of all attempts at mobilization. Today, it is difficult to imagine that people could be mobilized without social media, says Orla Vigsø.

Used for impact

There are also backsides with the extensive spread. Disinformation or angled information is used to influence virtually all conflicts or protests today, according to Orla Vigsø.

- It's very easy to make people think that pictures show something that later turns out to be wrong. But then it has already spread to millions who will never see the explanation of what they actually saw. Now that everyone has a mobile phone that they can film with, the possibilities for it have become greater.

Not just violence

It's not just violent clips that are shared from the protests in Chile. For example, clips showing how cops and protesters hug each other have spread.

- If you show a picture or film of a demonstrator and a policeman hugging each other, you have also said a lot of other things, that the police are not interested in confrontation but that it is the police and political leadership who are guilty of it, says Orla Vigsø.

- The fact that social media is sovereign for quickly reaching a very large audience means that they have incredible potential, Orla Vigsø continues.