THE FIELD OF SOCIOLOGY AS A SPACE FOR RESISTING MISINFORMATION: A STUDY ON YOUTH POLITICAL EDUCATION AND MEDIA LITERACY

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the mediating role of Sociology as an instance of resistance and political formation, investigating the relationship between social media consumption habits and the media literacy capacity of young students in public schools in Petrolina-PE. The methodology was based on a qualitative-quantitative approach, designed as a multiple case study, involving the application of structured questionnaires and documentary analysis in four state institutions. The main results demonstrate an absolute technological immersion of young people via smartphones, yet accompanied by passive political engagement and significant difficulties in identifying digital misinformation. It was evidenced that more than half of the respondents do not perceive Sociology classes as an effective support for understanding democracy or for the critical mediation of social media content. It is concluded that there is a pedagogical mismatch that favors depoliticization, making it imperative for Sociology to promote critical autonomy. The transversal integration of media literacy is essential to transform uncritical consumption into conscious citizen participation in the face of contemporary informational disorder challenges.