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Social Media in Disinformation Studies

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A special issue of Journalism and Media (ISSN 2673-5172).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 22439

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Dr. Inês Amaral

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Department of Philosophy, Communication and Information, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: participation and social media; feminist media studies; gender and media; media and digital literacy; audiences; disinformation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of social media as a leading medium for communication and information sharing has significantly altered the worldwide informational landscape and, although these platforms have made information more accessible and increased civic participation, they have also become prime environments for spreading disinformation. Issues like fake news, conspiracy theories, and content manipulation driven by algorithms have created substantial obstacles to democratic integrity, journalism, and media literacy. These effects appear in various ways across sociocultural and geopolitical settings, emphasizing the inequalities between the Global North and South in tackling this issue.

The examination of disinformation has attracted growing interest in fields like communication, political science, cultural studies, and information science. Nonetheless, it is essential to acknowledge the particular functions of social media as a facilitator and enhancer of disinformation streams. The distinct features of these platforms—including algorithmic customization, filter bubbles, and engagement-focused design—establish dynamics that promote the viral spread of misleading and divisive narratives. These dynamics influence the material with which users engage and their views and interactions regarding information.

This Special Issue aims to investigate social media’s role in disinformation studies, focusing on issues concerning the creation, distribution, and reception of misleading narratives, the influence of algorithmic behaviors on the spread of false news, and efforts to alleviate the negative consequences of these issues. Special attention will be given to critical and intersectional viewpoints, exploring how power, inequality, and coloniality influence the dynamics of disinformation on digital platforms.

We invite submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

The dynamics of creating and disseminating misleading narratives on social media;
The role of algorithmic personalization and filter bubbles in amplifying disinformation;
Strategies to enhance critical information consumption and combat disinformation;
Power dynamics, inequality, and coloniality in the spread of disinformation;
Policies and technological solutions to mitigate disinformation on social platforms;
Comparative analyses of disinformation approaches in the Global North and South;
Threats posed by disinformation to democratic integrity and journalistic practices;
Innovative methods and empirical research on disinformation in social media;
Activism and civic engagement strategies to counter disinformation online;
Emerging designs and possibilities for resilient informational ecosystems.

Dr. Inês Amaral
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

disinformation
social media algorithms
global north–south inequalities
media literacy
coloniality and power dynamics

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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16 pages, 1875 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Students Evaluate Fake News and AI-Generated Content on Social Media: Insights from Hong Kong Post-Secondary Students

by William Ko-Wai Tang, Chammy Yan-Lam Lau and Ao Zhang

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020109 - 20 May 2026

Viewed by 214

Abstract

Social media has become a primary news source for post-secondary students in Hong Kong; however, there is substantial disinformation and misinformation on these platforms. This study offers an initial qualitative window into how Hong Kong post-secondary students identify and respond to online disinformation and misinformation on social media. The qualitative interviews were conducted based on the traditional “Content–Appearance–Motivation” (CAM) framework. The findings show that students actively draw on common-sense reasoning and CAM-related cues. The study proposes a provisional Contextualized Dual-Loop Verification Model in which traditional CAM assessment is embedded within a broader loop of platform literacy, technical authenticity awareness, perceived risk and efficacy, and metacognitive regulation, highlighting the need for journalism and media education to move beyond conventional information literacy toward AI-era verification competencies. Future large-scale and cross-cultural studies are needed to test and refine this model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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12 pages, 1372 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ten Years on: A Revisit on the #FeesMustFall Movement Discourse on Twitter/X

by Emmanuel Fundisi and Qinisile Pearl Dlamini

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020098 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 374

Abstract

The student movement of 2015, dubbed “#FeesMustFall”, was a pivotal moment in South Africa, which saw students demonstrating against for tuition fees in institutions of higher education. It was the country’s most significant post-apartheid student movement, in which Twitter/X played an important role, serving as a space for information sharing. Although the #FeesMustFall movement has been widely studied, there is still limited testing of the emotional discourse and the perceived consequences. This study sought to fill that gap by computing sentiment analysis of Twitter/X from 2015–2016 and reveal how emotional stories influenced mobilisation and public opinion on higher education reform in South Africa. A Lexicon-based (Natural Language Processing) sentiment analysis approach was utilised to assess people’s sentimentsand thefindings unveiled the role of emotions in shaping and mobilising youths, leading to the protest. For instance, 51% of the analysed tweets expressed support for the movement’s goals. These tweets reflected a strong conviction that reducing student fees is essential for improving access to higher education and addressing social inequality, particularly access to higher education. In addition, 31% of the tweets exhibited criticism of the protest. This criticism or negativity may stem from concerns about the destruction of university property during the protests, as well as the feasibility of implementing proposed changes. Only 18% of the tweets presented neutral sentiments, i.e., neither a strongly positive nor a strongly negative outcome. These tweets expressed views that were not opinionated on the demonstrations. Overall, it can be noted that the emotional dimensions of social activism in the digital age highlight the significance of emotional discourse in shaping the impact of student dissatisfaction with the higher education system in South Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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19 pages, 407 KB

Open AccessArticle

I Value It, but I Don’t Use It: Attitudes Toward Fact-Checking Among Portuguese University Students

by João Pedro Baptista, Francisco Conrado and Pedro Costa Rodrigues

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020089 - 25 Apr 2026

Viewed by 634

Abstract

Fact-checking appeared as one of the responses to disinformation, establishing itself inside the journalism profession as another of its ethos. However, its social relevance relies on public perception and engagement. Despite growing evidence of approval, low familiarity and limited active use of fact-checking news remain common patterns, particularly among younger audiences. This study examines familiarity, contact, and attitudes toward fact-checking in a convenience sample of Portuguese university students, exploring associations with news consumption habits, political interest, skepticism, and ideological orientation through an online survey, with 356 university students, across different scientific areas. Results indicate that students show favorable attitudes toward fact-checking (M = 3.70) and recognize its social value but report moderate-to-low familiarity with its practices (M = 2.85), infrequent access (M = 2.37), and minimal sharing behavior (M = 1.82). Interest in reading fact-checking content emerged as the strongest predictor of positive attitudes (β = 0.506), outperforming familiarity and access frequency. Lower skepticism was associated with more favorable attitudes and showed no significant relationship with political orientation. Those more conservative displayed slightly less favorable attitudes. Our findings suggest that the primary challenge for fact-checking is not normative acceptance, but motivational engagement since favorable dispositions do not automatically translate into active consumption or sharing within everyday routines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

16 pages, 319 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trust in Scientists and Conspiracy Beliefs Predict Online Misinformation Susceptibility and Fake News Detection: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece

by Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Ioannis Moisoglou, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Olga Galani, Maria Tsiachri and Petros Galanis

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010061 - 18 Mar 2026

Viewed by 1447

Abstract

Online misinformation has grown significantly with the widespread use of the internet and the ease of sharing content through social media, often without rigorous fact-checking or scientific validation. In this context, we examined the effect of trust in scientists and conspiracy beliefs on online misinformation susceptibility and fake news detection. A cross-sectional study was carried out. We used valid questionnaires to collect our data. Trust in scientists was assessed using the Trust in Scientists Scale. Conspiracy beliefs were measured using the Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire. Participants’ susceptibility to online misinformation was evaluated using the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale. Our multivariable analysis identified that lower trust in scientists is associated with higher online misinformation susceptibility. Participants who believed in conspiracy behaviors showed also higher levels of misinformation susceptibility. Our multivariable model showed that participants who believe in conspiracy beliefs had a lower ability to detect fake news. We found a positive association between trust in sciences and fake news detection. We identified a negative association between interest in politics and fake news detection. Our findings showed associations between trust in scientists, conspiracy beliefs, online misinformation susceptibility and fake news detection. Identification of predictors of these outcomes is crucial to define high-risk groups and develop appropriate interventions to confront these issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

14 pages, 451 KB

Open AccessArticle

Heuristic and Systematic Processing on Social Media: Pathways from Literacy to Fact-Checking Behavior

by Yoon Y. Cho and Hyunju Woo

Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040198 - 26 Nov 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3300

Abstract

Misinformation circulating on social media presents a critical challenge for journalism and media education in the digital age. Beyond individual news consumption, it reflects broader concerns about cognitive processing and the cultivation of transversal competencies that underpin responsible digital citizenship. This study examines how foundational literacy shapes online fact-checking behavior through the mediating role of news literacy and whether this relationship is moderated by heuristic–systematic processing within social media environments. An online survey of South Korean college students was conducted, and moderated mediation analysis revealed that foundational literacy indirectly fosters fact-checking through enhanced news literacy. However, reliance on heuristic shortcuts weakened this pathway, highlighting how cognitive biases can undermine critical verification in digital contexts. These findings suggest that journalism education would benefit from moving beyond functional skills to incorporate awareness of platform-driven information flows, reflective media engagement, and critical evaluation into curricula. By positioning news literacy as a core competency for contemporary digital environments, this study contributes to ongoing discussions on how higher education can prepare future journalists and media users to navigate complex, technology-mediated information ecosystems with ethical and epistemic responsibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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31 pages, 338 KB

Open AccessArticle

Platform Resistance and Counter-Disinformation Strategies: How Environmental Journalists Combat Corporate Misinformation Networks in Maritime Southeast Asia

by Moehammad Iqbal Sultan, Muhammad Akbar, Muliadi Mau and Alem Febri Sonni

Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040193 - 15 Nov 2025

Viewed by 2435

Abstract

This study examines how environmental journalists in Eastern Indonesia develop innovative digital strategies to counter corporate disinformation while maintaining credible climate reporting amid systematic censorship and algorithmic suppression. Through ethnographic fieldwork with 34 environmental journalists in Makassar and surrounding maritime communities (2023–2024), combined with digital platform analysis and content verification tracking, this investigation reveals how local journalists create “networked verification archipelagos” that mirror traditional maritime communication systems to combat extractive industry misinformation. Our analysis revealed three primary counter-disinformation mechanisms: (1) community-based verification networks that successfully identified 87% of corporate misinformation within 48 h through traditional knowledge integration; (2) algorithmic resistance strategies that increased environmental content visibility by 156% through cultural framing techniques; and (3) cross-platform coordination that maintained journalist communication networks despite 34 documented censorship campaigns. These networks enable accurate environmental reporting despite corporate-sponsored disinformation campaigns, government restrictions on mining coverage, and social media algorithms that amplify climate denial content. The research demonstrates how journalists in the Global South develop decolonial approaches to counter-disinformation that challenge Western platform-centric fact-checking models while maintaining journalistic credibility and community accountability. These findings contribute to understanding power dynamics and coloniality in disinformation studies while offering insights for media literacy and democratic integrity in climate-vulnerable regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

20 pages, 443 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disinformation in Crisis Contexts—Perception of Russia Today’s Narratives in Ecuador

by Abel Suing

Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040192 - 15 Nov 2025

Viewed by 3199

Abstract

Disinformation poses a substantive challenge to democratic governance, particularly in contexts marked by foreign influence. While the broadcasting of Russia Today (RT) in Europe has received significant attention, comparatively little is known about its impact and audience reception in Latin America. This study addresses this gap by analysing Ecuadorians’ perceptions and uptake of RT’s broadcast narratives during a period of acute economic and security crisis. The objectives are (1) to establish the news narratives presented on RT, (2) to identify citizens’ perceptions of the news narratives, and (3) to determine the uptake of the narratives. A mixed methodological approach is undertaken, including narrative analysis of three audiovisual news pieces published by RT in Spanish, a survey, and three online focus groups. The results reveal the deployment of sophisticated narrative strategies that mix information with unsubstantiated claims and emotional appeals, resulting in a discernible bias favouring Russian perspectives. The findings underscore the urgency of strengthening media literacy and public policy responses in Latin America to counter the internalisation of such narratives. In addition, the research contributes to debates on information security, democratic resilience, and the protection of public opinion in vulnerable environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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17 pages, 2875 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Aesthetics of Algorithmic Disinformation: Dewey, Critical Theory, and the Crisis of Public Experience

by Gil Baptista Ferreira

Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040168 - 3 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

The rise of social media platforms has fundamentally reshaped the global information ecosystem, fostering the spread of disinformation. Beyond the circulation of false content, this article frames disinformation as an aesthetic crisis of public communication: an algorithmic reorganization of sensory experience that privileges performative virality over shared intelligibility, fragmenting public discourse and undermining democratic deliberation. Drawing on John Dewey’s philosophy of aesthetic experience and critical theory (Adorno, Benjamin, Fuchs, Han), we argue that journalism, understood as a form of public art rather than mere fact-transmission, can counteract this crisis by cultivating critical attention, narrative depth, and democratic engagement. We introduce the concept of aesthetic literacy as an extension of media literacy, equipping citizens to discern between seductive but superficial forms and genuinely transformative experiences. Empirical examples from Portugal (Expresso, Público, Mensagem de Lisboa) illustrate how multimodal journalism—through paced narratives, interactivity, and community dialogue—can reconstruct Deweyan “integrated experience” and resist algorithmic disinformation. We propose three axes of intervention: (1) public education oriented to aesthetic sensibility; (2) journalistic practices prioritizing ambiguity and depth; and (3) algorithmic transparency. Defending journalism as a public art of experience is thus crucial for democratic regeneration in the era of sensory capitalism, offering a framework to address the structural inequalities embedded in global information flows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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20 pages, 601 KB

Open AccessArticle

In the Face of Disinformation: To Publish or Not to Publish in the Vaza Jato Case

by Renan Araújo and Célia Belim

Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040167 - 3 Oct 2025

Viewed by 2511

Abstract

This article analyses journalistic decisions in the face of disinformation, focusing on the case of Vaza Jato in Brazil. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach—combining critical discourse analysis of online articles with semi-structured interviews with two editors—the study explores how two ideologically contrasting newspapers (Folha de S.Paulo and Gazeta do Povo) framed and justified their editorial positions regarding the publication of hacked content. The findings reveal distinct narrative strategies, degrees of epistemological openness, and levels of institutional trust in the judiciary and political actors. The results also show how editorial decisions are shaped by broader concerns about professional legitimacy, audience trust, and the ambiguous boundary between journalism and disinformation. This article contributes to research on disinformation, editorial ethics, and media trust, proposing an analytical framework applicable to other high-risk communication contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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15 pages, 834 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Media Literacy Education and Misinformation in Social Media Among Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Nadia Elizabeth Rodríguez Castillo, Jefferson Estuardo Mendoza Carrera, Michela Marisol Andrade-Vásquez and Kevin Acosta-Barreno

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020071 - 24 Mar 2026

Viewed by 3169

Abstract

The intensive use of social media has transformed the processes of accessing, consuming, and circulating information, positioning adolescents as one of the groups most exposed to digital misinformation. Despite their high connectivity, numerous studies show limitations in their ability to critically evaluate the content they consume and share in digital environments. In this context, this article aims to analyze, through a systematic review of the scientific literature, the role of educational institutions in the media literacy of adolescents in the face of the impact of misinformation on social media. The research was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO. An exhaustive search was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, considering studies published between 2019 and 2025 in English and Spanish. Following the selection process, 46 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 18 in the meta-analysis. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro and AMSTAR 2 scales. The results show that educational interventions in media literacy generate significant improvements in adolescents’ ability to identify misinformation and reduce their intention to share misleading content, especially those based on skimming, source verification, and cognitive inoculation. It is concluded that media literacy, integrated in a cross-cutting and sustained manner into the school curriculum, is a key strategy for mitigating the impact of misinformation and strengthening critical thinking in adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

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