Why Does Puerto Rican Independence Appear Stronger Online Than at the Ballot Box?

Spend enough time on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, and it may appear that Puerto Rico is experiencing an overwhelming political awakening in favor of independence. But when voters residing on the island enter the voting booth, the results present a different picture.

In this radio-style episode of Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes, host Edwin Ortiz examines the difference between the growing cultural and digital visibility of Puerto Rican independence and its measurable electoral support.

Using the results of Puerto Rico’s seven status plebiscites—from 1967 through 2024—we explore:

• The historical growth of independence • Why the seven plebiscites cannot always be directly compared • The difference between supporting an indepen ...