Brazil: from media clientelism to digital platforms' threats

From strong commercial media, such as traditional newspapers and television networks, to high reliance on digital platforms, the Brazilian media consumers are among the world's top users of online tools to consume information, leaving them especially exposed to fake news and political influence campaigns online. This chapter explores the key developments in Brazil's media landscape, including the rise of digital media news outlets, challenges to press freedom, and the growing influence of social media platforms on the information diet. The digitization of media and communication in Brazil has had an impact on clientelism, but the extent of the changes and their implications are complex and multifaceted. Brazil boasts along tradition of early social media adoption. In Brazil, press freedom is protected by the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom of the press.