Media and conflict: constructing perceptions in a polarized world

Recent research shows that misinformation is an undeniable problem, posing major challenges for societies and organisations, media companies and public policies. In particular, if we consider the critical place that journalism occupies in shaping social perceptions and representations of the world, it is necessary to broaden the discussion to the impact that, in today's world of social and political divergence and polarisation, humanitarian crisis and climate risk, new communication tools, the digital world and artificial intelligence have in the context misinformation, the spread of narratives that instigate hate speech and social division. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to media access and consumption practices, as far as the younger generations are concerned, considering the countless possibilities for activism and civic participation, not forgetting the challenges and risks they entail, if we consider that these networks can create distorted perceptions of reality, reinforce prejudices, disbelieve in the media and democratic institutions and aggravate crises. In Portugal, and particularly with regard to the generations of children, youth and young adults, these issues need to gain ground on the academic and public scene from a perspective centred not only on understanding the media practices of current events consumption by these audiences, but also on a more robust analysis that makes it possible to understand the social representations that are formed through the media and digital communication, considering the societal issues of the country and the world. Considering the above, this study proposes an analysis of the dynamics of consumption and sharing of media content related to the Russian-Ukrainian War, with an emphasis on the spread of misinformation and its influence on social representations about refugees. This research is part of the R&D project “MeInWar - Study on the media and social representations of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict”, funded by the Europeia University, located in Lisbon (Portugal), and is based on an exploratory study using an online questionnaire survey. The non-probabilistic sample, made up of 222 individuals aged between 18 and 38 living in Portugal, allowed for a detailed analysis of the patterns of consumption and dissemination of narratives about the conflict. The analysis of the results, carried out using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, revealed that media narratives influence attitudes towards refugees and migration policies, and it is clear that socio-demographic variables, such as age and gender, impact not only perceptions of these topics but also content sharing practices and the motivations behind them. Furthermore, by relating individual sharing motivations to media narratives and misinformation, the results emphasise the complexity of the interaction between audiences and the media, offering important data for academic reflection and practice on the subject. These findings underpin the study's conclusions, pointing to the need for more robust media and digital literacy strategies and for future research centred on the role of the media and social networks in times of conflict, broadening the sample diversity and deepening the relationships observed.