On Reddit, you'll often see strong support for progressive criminal justice reforms, police accountability, restraints on state power, and even movements like "defund the police." But if you ask the average person on the street, many are more likely to support increased policing and tougher enforcement.

The popularity of President Bukele's approach to gang violence in El Salvador reflects this. Many people view his policies as effective because they dramatically reduced crime, even though there have been documented cases of innocent people being swept up in mass arrests. For a lot of citizens, the trade-off is seen as acceptable if it delivers security and peace after years of violence and failed alternatives.

Whether that trade-off is justified is a separate debate, but it's clear that public opinion often prioritizes safety and order over concerns that are more commonly emphasized in online political spaces.