A study led by URJC analyzes misinformation among university students

Writing/Raúl García Hémonnet

Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) has led a study on the perception of disinformation among the university population, prepared for the Homeland Security Department's Forum against Disinformation Campaigns. The study, presented on May 28 at the CSIC headquarters in Madrid, was co-directed by Journalism Professor David García-Marín.

Entitled 'University Students and Disinformation in the Context of National Security: Perceptions and Tools for Media Literacy', the research was conducted in collaboration with Professor María José Establés of the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Its main objective was to analyze how Spanish university students perceive fake news and what strategies they employ to combat it.

Students call for 'arming' themselves against disinformationn

The results demonstrate a widespread awareness among students regarding the impact of disinformation on society. Specifically, students identify its influence on social fragmentation, the reinforcement of echo chambers driven by digital algorithms, the increase in polarization, and its impact on electoral processes.

The study also points to a significant deficiency in the Spanish education system, which does not specifically address disinformation training at either the primary or university levels. In this regard, students are demanding greater media literacy across all disciplines, encompassing all areas of knowledge and beginning before higher education.

As a complement, the research includes open-access training materials for teachers. These include various infographics and podcasts that address key concepts at the intersection of disinformation and national security.

The project has been developed within the framework of a working group of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), in which 14 teachers and researchers from public and private universities throughout the country participate, with Professor Leticia Rodríguez Fernández, from the University of Cádiz, as a member.