Disinformation, fake news and public opinion: a case study of the 2022 Chilean national plebiscite

Bc. Guilherme DE OLIVEIRA SCAGLIONE

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of disinformation and fake news surrounding the 2022 exit plebiscite in Chile. It analyses the correlation between the popularity of chosen themes of the text that had been targeted by fake news and public opinion in favor of the rejection of a new Constitutional text. To do so, this work makes use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Our findings have suggested that, during the last 65 days of this political event, the popularity of the chosen themes did not have a statistically significant correlation with the results from public opinion polls. This research is part of an inclusive academic agenda that investigates the underlying structural issues of disinformation strategies in the Global South, using the recent Constitutional process of Chile as a case study. Due to the novelty of the event of interest, studies on this topic are incipient and scarce in academic literature.

Abstract:

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of disinformation and fake news surrounding the 2022 exit plebiscite in Chile. It analyses the correlation between the popularity of chosen themes of the text that had been targeted by fake news and public opinion in favor of the rejection of a new Constitutional text. To do so, this work makes use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Our findings have suggested that, during the last 65 days of this political event, the popularity of the chosen themes did not have a statistically significant correlation with the results from public opinion polls. This research is part of an inclusive academic agenda that investigates the underlying structural issues of disinformation strategies in the Global South, using the recent Constitutional process of Chile as a case study. Due to the novelty of the event of interest, studies on this topic are incipient and scarce in academic literature.

Keywords

political campaigning and communication, disinformation, online media, manipulative techniques, Chile

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 31. 5. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mgr. Radovan Dluhý

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Global Development Policy / Global Development Policy