The recent response from the Cuban regime to a wave of memes and criticism on social media has highlighted the sensitivity of its leaders to expressions of discontent from the public in the digital space.
The official reaction stemmed from the viral spread of a parody tweet that some officials apparently took as fake news. The tweet, clearly humorous, satirically addressed the issues within the country's energy system, but was interpreted by the authorities as an attempt at misinformation.
The message, posted from a parody account, stated: "Today's earthquake was caused by the Renté thermoelectric plant; the force with which it was integrated into the national electricity grid triggered a vibration in the tectonic layer of the Bahamas, leading to the tremor in Bayamo. We ask the public not to worry; we do not plan to restart it."
Immediately, high-level officials and state agencies of the Cuban regime condemned what they considered a "digital media attack" aimed at creating "chaos and despair" among the population.
Among the main spokespersons of this narrative, Susely Morfa González, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and head of the Department of Attention to the Social Sector, published a tweet warning citizens about a misinformation campaign, urging them “not to be complicit” with these messages on social media.
The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) joined this complaint, an entity that has faced strong criticism in recent weeks due to the ongoing and prolonged blackouts in the country. UNE echoed the message from the parody account on its official account, using the hashtag #NoFakes and urging users to be wary of posts that, according to them, aim to spread false news.
In another tweet, the UNE specified that its only official account on the platform is @OSDE_UNE, aiming to differentiate itself from parody profiles that satirize the country's energy situation.
This incident sparked a series of ironic responses on social media. User @Taoro8 criticized the reaction of UNE, stating: “We all know about the inefficiency of @OSDE_UNE, but coming out to refute a meme amid five-day blackouts crosses the line into absurdity...”.
Other comments highlighted the contrast between the attention the Cuban government gives to memes and its lack of effective responses to the energy crisis affecting the population.
Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), also joined the official defense. On his X account (formerly Twitter), Hernández urged caution regarding “fake profiles” that, according to him, use humor as a tool to spread “lies” and “hate” towards the regime.
"Be cautious of some fake profiles on 'X' that – under the guise of supposed humor – spread lies in the hopes that someone will 'bite.' They are the same haters, with the same agenda," wrote the failed spy who recently urged the Cederistas to fight on social media.
The government's reaction has sparked a discussion about the disconnect between the regime's priorities and the needs of the population. While Cubans are facing constant blackouts, food shortages, and difficulties accessing basic services, the government focuses its efforts on debunking memes and warning about alleged disinformation campaigns.
The user of the account @UNE__CUBA also joined the debate, commenting: "They say we are spreading disinformation and suffering from a media attack, yet they post a screenshot that clearly states that the account sharing the news is a PARODY AND FAKE."
This episode highlights the widening gap between the official narrative of the Cuban regime and the reality faced by its citizens. Instead of addressing the root causes of social discontent, such as prolonged blackouts and the economic crisis, authorities resort to blaming social media and meme creators, accusing them of attempting to destabilize the country.
The Cuban regime responds with censorship and control to the wave of critical memes on social media.
The government's response, however, has been seen by many as a failed attempt to control the narrative on social media, which remains a space for expressing the frustrations of a society increasingly burdened by shortages and a lack of solutions.
A recent example of repression against meme creators in Cuba is the case of a Cuban nurse who, in August 2024, was accused of "contempt" and could face a sentence of up to three years in prison for posting a critical meme on his social media.
The production of memes has intensified at key moments in Cuban reality. In May 2024, during the parade for International Workers' Day, numerous memes emerged mocking the official celebration, highlighting the incongruity between the reality of the crisis the country is experiencing and the triumphalist rhetoric of the government.
Similarly, in March 2024, the regime's response to the citizens' protests was widely satirized on social media, where Cubans used memes to express their disagreement with the government's management and repressive measures.
The regime's reactions to this wave of memes have included public denials and the creation of digital campaigns to counteract the criticism.
In February 2024, regime supporters launched the hashtag #YoTambienMeErizo in an attempt to ridicule the popular reggaeton song "Me Erizo," which had become a symbol of opposition to the government.
Similarly, in other instances, authorities have sought to dispel rumors on social media, such as the one that emerged about a supposed illegal production of picadillo in Havana in April 2024 and the concerns regarding the country's energy situation in May 2024.
Even figures close to power, such as Lis Cuesta Peraza, the wife of ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, have been the subject of mockery on social media, resulting in a flood of comments and memes, as was the case with a photo where she is seen holding a puppet.
The regime's censorship and repression of digital humor reflects its concern about this form of protest, which manages to penetrate society and expose the system's shortcomings.
Through official denials, warnings about "fake accounts," and legal actions, the government is trying to contain the impact of memes, which have become a tool of resistance in a Cuba that continues to seek spaces for freedom of expression.
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