site.btaSociologists Examine How Young People Get Informed and Risks of Disinformation
Young people in Bulgaria often rely on social media for information, which makes them susceptible to disinformation, according to sociologists Alexey Pamporov from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Stoycho Bosev from the Alpha Research polling agency, who spoke to BTA.
Pamporov said that Bulgarians generally lack critical thinking skills, saying: "We are used to there being one truth and are afraid to challenge it." Bosev stressed that young people can be easily misled by false information.
A Eurobarometer survey conducted earlier this year among Europeans aged 16-30 found that 76% of young people reported being exposed to disinformation and fake news. In nine EU Member States, more than half of respondents said they encountered such content "often" or "very often".
Disinformation on social media
Pamporov explained that social media allow uncontrolled production of news, including large volumes of false or misleading content, which can distort public opinion and ideologically shape discourse.
Bosev said that content is increasingly becoming based on short videos, providing young audiences with a fragmented picture and making them more susceptible to fake news, half-truths and unverified facts. He noted that content creators make information more visually attractive to engage young users.
In Bulgaria, social media circles often share and amplify each other's content, targeting specific audiences, Pamporov said. This creates information bubbles, where individuals rely on a single source and assume it represents the whole truth. Unlike traditional media, which generally follow standards and aim for neutrality, social media can operate entirely within niches, including political content. Pamporov stressed that while most content is unchecked, there are exceptions, including independent social media outlets.
He warned that the lack of critical oversight allows non-experts to present opinions that seem credible to audiences. "Often two non-experts will confirm each other's opinions, giving the appearance of agreement, simply because they are not experts," he said. Titles like "professor" can create a false sense of authority, and media often invite professionals to comment outside their expertise simply to provide diversity of opinions.
Pamporov argued that literature and history education in Bulgaria remains deeply ideologically influenced, a legacy of the totalitarian regime, which imposed a single truth. He said that social media encourage rapid, uncritical sharing of false information, fostering patterned thinking and a lack of scepticism. He noted that this trend influences voting behaviour, as individuals often make decisions based on relatives' opinions or perceived election outcomes, a phenomenon he described as voting based on who they think will win.
Pamporov said that social media are increasingly replacing traditional news sources, not just among young people but also among middle-aged adults. Traditional news is structured around fixed schedules, while social media allow users to access information on topics of interest at their convenience. He added that young people's political choices and social activity are increasingly influenced by events such as a concert in central Sofia or viral TikTok videos.
Bosev noted that 60% of young people primarily get their information from online sources like TikTok and other social media platforms. Traditional media such as radio, newspapers and magazines remain largely secondary, with only 10-20% national consumption and almost negligible usage among young audiences.
Bosev observed that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used by young people in Bulgaria, mainly through generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. About one in three young people use such applications actively, though at the national level this figure is 13%. In addition, AI is mainly used for searching for information or checking facts in debates with friends, rather than for professional or educational tasks.
Many young people aged 16-18 rate themselves as under-informed on current events, including basic questions like when Bulgaria will adopt the euro or what is the lev-euro conversion rate, said Bosev. Surveys offer options for respondents to indicate lack of knowledge, and many young people select these options, recognizing their limited awareness of socio-political issues. The analyst commented it is normal for young people to be uninformed at this stage of life, as they are more focused on other interests rather than socio-political issues.
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