Filtros de conteúdo nas mídias sociais digitais: como usuários do Facebook podem revelar pistas sobre os algoritmos e a desinformação

Abstract

This work has the purpose to clarify the use of content filters in digital social media and discuss how these mechanisms can promote disinformation and informative bubbles among people. Based on Content Analysis and semi-structured interviews, we achieve the general objective of the work, which is to understand the functioning of the algorithm through clues from Facebook users. The specific objectives are going to understand how user behavior can favor the formation of informative bubbles and disinformation; analyze how the user is impacted by messages and misinformation; understand how the user perceives or impacts two filters and disinformation; and assess how the flow of information in digital social media is conditioned by filters. Bubble filters are mechanisms used by digital networks to approach individuals who are closest to their preference, according to the characteristics that the person presents from the use of platforms such as Facebook. By defining what information should appear for each user, filters can encourage information clutter and trap people in bubbles without a plurality of information and opinions. The work is structured in four chapters, the first two are theoretical, dealing with filters, the formation of bubbles and disinformation in digital social media. The third chapter is about the methodological approach used to carry out the analysis. Finally, in the fourth chapter, the results obtained from the analysis are presented. With this investigation, it was understood that the vast majority of digital users, despite still having doubts about the functioning of the algorithms, realize that digital social networks direct content according to personal preference, which encourages the creation of bubbles and misinformation. It was also possible to understand how this problem can affect the individual and their personal relationships. The research made it possible to verify that most people live in information bubbles, which is evidenced by the lack of plurality in the publications analyzed on the Facebook feed, the social network that make up this study.