Navigating disinformation: Brazilian college students’ social media strategies in times of political conflict

Purpose This study aims to explore Brazilian undergraduate students’ social media engagement and strategies for managing encounters with disinformation during a time of national political conflict. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered using questionnaires and focus groups with 25 library and information science undergraduates at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data were analyzed using an iterative-inductive analysis process. Findings The findings suggest the participants used thoughtful strategies for evaluating information while navigating complex social dynamics, particularly within family relationships when political views differed. Three identity-related perspectives were associated with political information engagement and avoidance: generational identity, political identity and national identity. In addition, four disinformation management strategies were identified: selective engagement, source questioning, content verification and avoiding political discussion altogether. Research limitations/implications The findings represent the thoughts and opinions of a select group of Brazilian undergraduates at a specific time and place. Practical implications A deeper understanding of how these students grapple with disinformation can help educators and librarians better support students’ critical engagement and dialogue around problematic digital content. Originality/value This research contributes to the understanding of how undergraduate students in a particular Global South context navigate social media environments during periods of intensified political disinformation, and the strategies they employ to manage and avoid disinformation in social media.