The construction of the social problem of scientific misinformation on X/Twitter in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic

This article looks at the construction of the social problem of scientific misinformation on X (Twitter) in Brazil. Based on a constructivist sociology of social problems, this study proposes a qualitative content analysis of attention on a selection of the 600 most shared tweets during eight time periods in the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Results suggest that a large number of the tweets associated this phenomenon with the political instrumentalization of the infodemic as well as the increased production and circulation of fake news. Data also reveal a strong role of journalists and media outlets in the debates held on X. The journalistic space is divided between claims-makers from mainstream journalism who discuss misinformation to legitimize their authority with producers of a “truthful” public discourse; and actors linked to a segment of ideologically minded media committed to politicizing the debate on the infodemic. Political actors also engaged in this debate, reflecting the polarized environment of Brazilian society. This study enabled us to examine scientific misinformation more closely and reveal the social dynamics behind the construction of a social problem on X.