Fake News: 7 out of 10 Brazilians demand action from social networks against fake news

Fake news remains a central concern for Brazilians.According to a Hibou survey, the 70% believe that social networks should be held accountable for the spread of false information. 39% advocates that platforms take full responsibility for the content posted. 60% of Brazilians did not think it was a good idea for Meta to end its program to combat fake news and leave it in the hands of the community.

When it comes to pointing out the main vehicles associated with the spread of fake news, the Facebook leads with 45% of mentions, followed by WhatsApp (42%) and Instagram (39%). Other platforms such as TikTok (35%) and X, former Twitter (34%), have been these data also reveal a consolidated public perception of the responsibility of large social networks in controlling the content circulating on their platforms, reinforcing the pressure for these companies to adopt more rigorous and effective measures to combat fake news.

“The impact of fake news goes beyond misinformation: it directly affects trust in brands, institutions and even the media.It is imperative that companies, vehicles and platforms work together to ensure a safer and more transparent digital environment”, and ligia Mello, CSO of Hibou.

Trust in the origin of information is a critical factor in combating the spread of fake news in Brazil. According to the research, the 51% of Brazilians always check the source before sharing a news on their social networks, demonstrating preventive behaviour to prevent the spread of false content. However, 32% only check the source when something seems wrong, and there is still a worrying group: 13% share news without checking its veracity, revealing the role of impulse and lack of checking in perpetuating misinformation.

But what makes Brazilians suspicious of a news story? Identifying fake news is an increasingly common practice.People are more attentive to the signs of news reliability. According to the survey, the 56% of respondents check if a news appears on different sites or social networks before believing it, indicating an active search for cross-validation.In addition, 44% of participants avoid content with sensational titles, recognizing the exaggerated appeal as one of the main indications of falsehood. Another 38% assesses the credibility of the site where they found the information, reinforcing the importance of reliable vehicles in combating disinformation only 7% trust content shared by influencers digital, suggesting that the public is still skeptical about the legitimacy of the information disseminated by these public figures.

Fake news not only misinforms, but also directly affects brand perception, according to the study 26% of consumers said they liked products advertised alongside fake news less, even recognizing that brands often have no control over where their advertisements appear 32% of respondents believe that these companies help fund fake news indirectly, reinforcing the need for a more careful advertising strategy in the digital environment.