O combate às fake news sobre a COVID-19 na perspectiva da alfabetização científica e tecnológica crítica

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, society was constantly informed about vaccines, the virus, and its variations through social media and digital platforms. However, with so much varied information from different sources, the public often struggled to discern, critically analyze, and judge the digital content they were receiving. The growing culture of fake news disrupted the right to accurate information, especially concerning public health. One way to address this issue in the field of Science, Technology, and Society Education (STS Education) is through Critical Scientific and Technological Literacy (CSTL). CSTL aims to develop educational strategies that democratize scientific and technological knowledge, allowing society to make informed decisions. Considering this research problem and the CSTL framework, a bibliographic and documentary review was conducted to explore the paths taken by scientists and science communicators in providing accurate information to combat the widespread fake news about COVID-19. The key findings highlight the need for the field of scientific and technological education to develop and configure scientific language adapted to the format and language of digital media. This would make the information more accessible to the general population, contributing to the democratization of scientific and technological knowledge and enabling citizens to exercise their right to information effectively.