This seminar will examine the relationship between repressive practices in autocracies and the use of digital platforms, specifically focusing on Instagram in Belarus and Venezuela. Statistical observations in May 2023 revealed that the top ten Instagram accounts in both countries belonged to organizations rather than personalities, setting them apart from democratic and authoritarian nations globally. Analyzing data from the HypeAuditor platform, the study delves into the demographic details of the 50 most followed Instagram accounts in each country, emphasizing the distinctive orientation towards routine consumption-related content. The project aims to empirically explore and interpret these observations, comparing Belarus and Venezuela as cases of repressive authoritarian digital politics. It documents state measures in the digital sphere, particularly criminalization, and judicialization of online political and civic claims, assessing their impact on mass media projects and individual users. Drawing on digital platform studies, existing media sphere research in Belarus and Venezuela, and comparative studies of non-democratic politics, the project seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between repression and digital platform usage in these contexts.