Feminism in the digital age: Mobilization, resistance and the antifeminist counterreaction on social networks. An approach to the fourth wave.

Abstract

The article examines feminist communication on social media and the antifeminist response within these digital spaces. Through a qualitative analysis of four key cases—#MeToo, the March 8th protests in Spain, the Organic Law for the Comprehensive Protection of Sexual Freedom (the “Only Yes Means Yes” Law), and the #SeAcabó movement in Spain—this study explores the dynamics of feminist mobilization and conservative backlash. The methodology involves a content analysis focusing on hashtags and discursive patterns on Twitter and Instagram, examining how social networks function as both vehicles for feminist visibility and platforms for the amplification of antifeminist discourse.
The findings reveal that, although social media has been essential for the visibility and growth of feminist movements, these platforms also facilitate the spread of misogynistic messages and the organization of the so-called manosphere. The conclusions show that online feminist activism challenges traditional patriarchal structures but simultaneously faces increasing polarization and digital violence, limiting female participation in these spaces. This coexistence of mobilization and backlash presents social media as a “double-edged sword,” highlighting the need for inclusive digital policies to counteract algorithmic oppression and online gender violence.