Competence to recognize disinformation on social networking: diagnosis with students entering undergraduate courses

Abstract

This article examines students' competence in recognizing disinformation on social networking sites from the perspective of their training to deal with this informational environment. Specifically, it answers the following research question: how do students entering undergraduate programs in Information Sciences react when they receive disinformation from social networks? The research employs diagnostic, descriptive analysis, and quantitative evaluation. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 196 incoming students from ten public universities in Brazil. The results revealed that, despite the students' intense connectivity, it does not make them experts in identifying false information. This finding shows that students need skills in critical information competence to understand how various disinformation activities occur in society and how they either serve or undermine democratic objectives.