Graduation Year
2025
Date of Submission
4-2025
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Government
Reader 1
Jessica Zarkin
Abstract
This thesis examines how Mexican cartels, particularly the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, use technology and social media to expand their operations and influence. As these cartels evolve into more sophisticated criminal organizations, they leverage tools like encrypted messaging, drones, and social media to enhance recruitment, surveillance, intimidation, and propaganda. Through an analysis of news articles, government reports, social media content, and academic studies, the research focuses on two key areas: digital media manipulation and military-grade technology. The findings show that social media has become a powerful tool for cartels to assert dominance and instill fear, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok being used not only for posting violent content but also for promoting a glamorous narco-culture to recruit young members. Additionally, cartels have weaponized technology, deploying drones and armored vehicles, such as CJNG's narco-tanks, to wage remote warfare and maintain control over contested territories. This paper highlights the growing challenges for law enforcement and policymakers, stressing the need for a comprehensive, technology-aware approach to combat these increasingly tech-enabled criminal organizations. The future of public safety in Mexico hinges on innovative strategies to address both physical and digital cartel threats.
Recommended Citation
Leon, Salvador, "The Impact of Technology and Social Media on the Expansion of Mexican Cartels' Power" (2025). CMC Senior Theses. 3983.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3983
