In recent days, one term has dominated public attention and media coverage: Blocus, a French word meaning “blockade”. It is the label under which student protests have been organised in Paris and other French and European cities.
The movement has also reached Spain, with the demonstrations and disturbances recorded in Barcelona during October.
Events organised under the Blocus banner remain active, and new gatherings have been announced in cities such as Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao, as well as in other countries, including France, Germany and Italy.
As with previous mobilisations, these events are promoted through social media. Initially, participants were encouraged to take to the streets in defence of quality education, but the movement has evolved into the promotion of vandalism without a shared political or social demand. According to official sources, most participants in these gatherings are minors.
The Two Phases of Mobilisation
The pattern followed by these events is remarkably similar and can essentially be divided into two phases.
The first phase consists of massive dissemination through social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Posters announcing the events are published, often highly similar in design and apparently generated using artificial intelligence. They typically feature white and red lettering over a background image of the city where the protest is being called, accompanied by images of flames.
A striking visual style is combined with a hashtag, #Blocus, sometimes followed by the name of the city in which the planned acts of violence are to take place. These accounts are anonymous and, as quickly as they are created, they disappear and are replaced by new ones.
Access routes to private WhatsApp and Telegram groups are also circulated through QR codes, direct messages and invitations. It is within these channels that the specific locations, schedules, dress codes and items to bring to the gatherings are determined.
The viral spread of this content is linked to several factors, including the internal logic of social media platforms and algorithmic bias, both of which influence the visibility of posts. Algorithms tend to prioritise content that generates a high level of interaction and emotional reactions, favouring certain narratives while limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.
Recent research has shown that social movements have learned to adapt their messages to the rules of Instagram, TikTok and X in order to maximise their reach. The use of short videos, striking images and overlaid text significantly increases the likelihood of capturing users’ attention. When combined with publishing at the right moment to take advantage of trending topics, a call to action can spread across thousands of screens within minutes.
The Amplifying Effect
Social media does not, by itself, cause violence. However, it can contribute to intensifying conflicts during periods of social and political tension. Research shows that digital platforms facilitate civic participation and accelerate the organisation of collective action. They also amplify messages that appeal to identity and a sense of belonging to a group, functioning as a powerful loudspeaker.
Another factor is that hate speech spreads more quickly through social media and reaches a wider audience than many other types of content. One explanation for this rapid diffusion is that users who post hateful messages tend to be more strongly connected with one another. This facilitates the circulation and amplification of such narratives within digital environments. A study based on the social platform Gab demonstrates how user connections help spread hate speech and expand its reach.
Technology also plays a clear organisational role. As early as 2018, research on international protest movements showed how digital networks facilitate the flow of strategic information during demonstrations and reinforce shared grievances and demands. The way users are connected also influences who receives information and how far a mobilisation can spread.
Can These Messages Be Stopped?
Faced with this situation, social media platforms have begun taking action. Telegram has already blocked groups linked to Blocus. TikTok has announced the creation of a specialised team to curb the dissemination of this content and has removed videos that promoted criminal activities. The platform also states that it has interrupted live broadcasts, suspended accounts, strengthened moderation measures and limited searches and recommendations related to such content.
Despite these efforts, fully controlling the spread of these messages remains an almost impossible challenge, as content is constantly transformed and shared across different applications through screenshots and alternative links. Therefore, as a society, the key lies in remaining vigilant towards this type of content, acting responsibly to avoid contributing to its dissemination and, when appropriate, reporting it to platforms and public authorities.
We live in a hyperconnected world, and the Blocus phenomenon illustrates how a mobilisation can cross borders and reach thousands of users within minutes. Social media has expanded opportunities for civic participation and collective action, but it can also serve as a channel for the spread of hate speech and calls for violence.
The Blocus case invites us to reflect on the need to promote media literacy and critical thinking among younger generations.
Originally published on The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/el-fenomeno-blocus-de-la-movilizacion-en-redes-a-las-protestas-y-los-disturbios-en-la-calle-295408
Author: Nàdia Alonso López, tenured professor of audiovisual communication at the Campus de Gandia of the Universitat Politècnica de València.