The erosion of consensus and algorithmic influence on scientific perception

Abstract

This research highlights the urgency of a public debate on epistemic sovereignty in the face of algorithmic and market-driven interests in the digital age, through an investigation into platformization and its influence on the public perception of science, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The central problem lies in the growing erosion of scientific credibility caused by algorithmic disinformation in digital environments, focusing on the role of digital platforms in mediating discourses about science and health. This research aims to understand how algorithms contribute to the circulation of pseudoscientific content and the legitimization of denialist actors, applying a qualitative methodology, based on literature review and critical analysis of denialist discourses amplified by platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, such as the case of Médicos Pela Vida movement. The findings indicate that disinformation spreads more intensely due to the engagement logic of these platforms, reinforcing informational bubbles and directly affecting vaccine acceptance, coming to the conclusion that algorithmic activity economically benefits the platforms while weakening the scientific ecosystem. It recommends democratic regulation, along with strategies such as critical information literacy and the application of prebunking techniques.