Disseminação e consequência entre universitários das fake news sobre saúde e política

Abstract

This research investigated the opinion of fifteen academics about Fake News in politics and health. The method was qualitative and the data was constructed from the analysis of five focus groups and a semi-structured interview. The analysis of participants' perceptions was conducted using the content analysis proposed by Bardin (1977). In the discussion, the participants' opinions regarding the term revealed connections with Brazilian political history and socio-educational inequalities. Regarding social media, the consensus on the complexity of engagement stood out. Regarding information filtering, the search for reliable sources and social responsibility in the dissemination of knowledge were converging points, despite some disagreements in the extent of this process. Regarding Fake News and Politics, the need for control was discussed, proposing legal liability for propagators of false information. There were concerns about polarization and favoritism towards political groups. On the topic of vaccination against COVID-19, some divergent opinions were expressed, citing discouraging impacts of Fake News on vaccination adherence. The research concluded by highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to tackling misinformation, especially given the significant role of social networks in spreading the phenomenon.