Analysis of Fake News from an Interdisciplinary Perspective between the Fields of Information Science and Psychology

Abstract

The phenomenon of fake news has become one of the main forms of informational disorder, causing profound impacts on the dynamics of digital, social, political, and cognitive culture due to its manipulative nature. Information Science, as an interdisciplinary field, and Social Psychology, through the Theory of Social Representations, have much to contribute to critical thinking and public awareness. Thus, this study questions the impacts of fake news on informational dynamics and the formation of social thought, as well as how the fields of Information Science and Psychology can contribute to understanding these effects in order to clarify contexts for society. The objective of this study was to investigate, in a content production company called Brasil Paralelo, the strategies of fake news related to the psychological field based on the dialogue between Information Science and Social Psychology. The methodology followed a qualitative approach of descriptive and exploratory nature. The method used was documentary and content analysis. Two texts from the platform, in the Psychology category, were analyzed. The results show that by disregarding data, historical context, and the nuances of debates, fake news promotes a biased view aligned with the logic of disinformation. We therefore highlight that content that appears educational can serve as a vehicle for disinformation by manipulating emotions and simplifying complex realities to persuade the reader, causing alienation and hindering the processes of citizenship and democracy.