Resumen:
There is a new pattern of consumption of political information that has been generating great challenges for electoral campaigning and democracy. Using the spiral of silence theory, this paper compares the willingness to express political opinions of digital users in four Iberoamerican countries (Argentina, Chile, Spain and Mexico). The paper explores patterns on digital users silencing their political opinions as well as the relationship between unwillingness to express their opinions with ideological self-position. The research shows that the users that place themselves at the ideological extremes are those who are less concerned about expressing their true political opinions openly on the Internet. This was found both in fears of the authorities and in fear of social isolation to the same extent. In the four countries studied, men have less willingness to express their political opinions. Fear is greater among young adults (25-34 years), while younger users and those over 45 feel less social pressure.
