Recent literature analyzes the use of social media by terrorist organizations, gangs, and other
criminal groups. Despite the valuable insight that this approach provides on these actors, the use
of social media by Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) remains largely
understudied. This study provides information on the scope and nature of Mexican DTOs’
online presence, a demographic snapshot of their users, and insight into the internal dynamics of
these organizations through the systematic study of primary-source data collected from 150
Facebook accounts likely to belong to members of Mexican DTOs. This information gleaned
from social media has the potential to enrich our knowledge and understanding of these
organizations and to serve as a guide for more effective and assertive anti-narcotics policies and
strategies in Mexico and Latin America. Finally, this study raises new questions and provides
avenues for future research on specific issues and trends related to DTOs observed throughout
the analysis.