OBSERVARE
Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
Thematic dossier
International Relations and Social Networks
July 2021
4
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN CYBER-DIPLOMACY
IN THE CONTEXT OF 5G
DANIEL MUÑOZ-SASTRE
daniel.munoz.sastre@uva.es
PhD in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising. Lecturer at the University of Valladolid where
he teaches the subjects of Culture and Corporate Identity and Brand Management. Member of
the Research Group on Trends in Advertising and Consumption of the Icono 14 Association. He
has been editor-in-chief at the two main Spanish radio stations, SER and COPE, advisor to
various companies and institutions on corporate identity issues and contributor to the candidacy
of Segovia (Spain) for European Capital of Culture in 2016.
ISABEL RODRIGO-MARTÍN
isabel.rodrigo@uva.es
PhD in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising and Master’s in communication with Social
Purges: Strategies and Campaigns from the University of Valladolid. Senior Lecturer at the
University of Valladolid. He has won the Caja España 2007 research prize and the IV Research
Scholarship of the Institute of Traditional Segovian Culture of the Provincial Council of Segovia.
She is a researcher at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) in the Chair of Digital
Communication in Childhood and Adolescence and in the SocMedia Research Group.
LUIS RODRIGO-MARTÍN
luis.rodrigo@uva.es
PhD in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising and Bachelor of Law. Senior Lecturer at the
University of Valladolid (Spain). He has been recognized with the Caja España and Caja Segovia
research prizes for two projects related to communication and consumption. Researcher of the
Complutense Chair of Communication and Marketing in Childhood and Adolescence. He is the
author of several books and about thirty articles in scientific journals. He was Director of
Communication of the Segovia Campus of the University of Valladolid.
Abstract
The implementation of the 5G network has led to one of the most serious diplomatic clashes
in recent years. The commercial war between the United States and China to lead the
development of the fifth generation of mobile Internet is being fought, among other
battlefields, on social networks. Our research analyzes the role of these communication tools
in the framework of this international conflict. It examines the use of social networks and their
value in the development of what is known as cyber-diplomacy. At the same time, we look
into the decisions taken by both states aimed at banning the activity of certain social networks
in their respective territories. The study shows the importance of social networks in the
transmission of messages between the contending parties and how they use them to attack
and defend their respective interests.
Keywords
Cyber-diplomacy; social networks; 5G; United States; China
How to cite this article
Muñoz-Sastre, Daniel; Rodrigo-Martín, Isabel; Rodrigo-Martín, Luís. The role of social
networks in cyber-diplomacy in the context of 5G. Janus.net, e-journal of international
relations. Thematic dossier International Relations and Social Networks, July 2021.
Consulted[online] in date of the last visit, https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.DT21.1
Article received on em January 4, 2021 and accepted for publication on March 22, 2021