Mídias sociais e divulgação científica na educação em ciências: usos e percepções de alunos do ensino médio

Abstract

The dissemination of scientific information to a non-specialized audience has a long history, encompassing various themes, communication methods, approaches, and objectives. With the advent of digital media and social networks, this practice has undergone significant transformation, especially in terms of format, volume of information, credibility, and access. These changes have made it easier for young students to access information on topics related to natural sciences. However, the characteristics of how this audience accesses and uses such information, particularly in the context of formal education, remain largely unknown. In this context, this exploratory study aimed to investigate how high school students consume and utilize scientific information shared on social networks, considering their preferences, usage modes, reasons, and objectives. Data collection involved questionnaires and group interviews with 18 high school students from a municipality in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The data were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis technique, which led to the identification of four main categories: translation and/or simplification of science, motivation to study science, interest in scientific content, and social networks as a complement to formal education. The results highlight the relevance of social networks in the learning process of these young students, who value aspects such as ease of access, informal language, dynamic presentations, humor, and appealing visual resources. These characteristics indicate that social networks can play a complementary role in formal education by fostering interest and motivation for studying natural sciences. As an exploratory study, this research sheds light on issues that require further, more detailed investigations in the future.