Education for democracy: political and media literacy strategies in fighting disinformation

estratégias de letramento político e midiático no combate à desinformação

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22484/2177-5788.2026v52id6086

Keywords:

Disinformation, democracy, political literacy

Abstract

Misinformation is one of today's greatest social dilemmas, with implications that span several fields, including democracy. It directly impacts interpersonal relationships and decision-making processes, increasing disbelief and lack of knowledge about practices such as civics and human rights. This study, based on a quantitative survey, analyzed misinformation countered by checkers Aos Fatos, Senado Verifica and Fato ou Fake, during the month of October 2023. In total, 67 pieces of misinformation were gathered, examined from the perspective of political literacy and media education, with the aim of identifying connections that can help individuals recognize and combat misinformation, in addition to fostering civic practice. The results indicate that these skills not only strengthen citizen participation, but also promote social resilience in the face of constant threats to the democratic environment.

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Author Biographies

  • Marcelo Simões Damasceno Damasceno, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo

    Master and PhD candidate in Social Communication; specialist in Political Science and in Legislative Power and Democracy in Brazil; postgraduate student in Marketing; university professor at UNIFIEO, tutor at Anhanguera, public servant at the City Council of Itapevi (SP), and member of the research groups HumanizaCom, Semio Humanitas, and NUPEL.

  • Patricia Garcia Costa, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo

    PhD and Master in Social Communication from the Methodist University of São Paulo (UMESP); professor of Portuguese Language and researcher in the Communication, City, and Memory research group.

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Published

2026-10-23

Issue

Vol. 52 (2026)

Section

Artigos | Tema livre

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Marcelo Simões Damasceno, Patricia Garcia Costa

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How to Cite

Education for democracy: political and media literacy strategies in fighting disinformation: estratégias de letramento político e midiático no combate à desinformação. Journal of University Studies, Sorocaba, SP, v. 52, p. e026002, 2026. DOI: 10.22484/2177-5788.2026v52id6086. Disponível em: https://periodicos.uniso.br/reu/article/view/6086. Acesso em: 26 oct. 2026.