The first wave of INCT.DD’s Panel Survey on Media Consumption and Political Behavior reveals information habits, trust in the media, views on fake news, and use of artificial intelligence.
Television, YouTube, and Instagram are currently the main media Brazilians use to follow political information. Despite the wide use of digital platforms, traditional media remain the most trusted by the population. These are some of the findings from the first wave of the Panel Survey on Media Consumption and Political Behavior, developed by the National Institute of Science and Technology in Digital Democracy (INCT.DD) and released on Saturday, 27 June.
The study interviewed 7,215 Brazilians between 5 April and 5 May 2026. It begins a new research project that will follow the same people through three stages: before, during, and after the 2026 elections. This method, known as a panel survey, makes it possible to identify how opinions, media consumption habits, and political behavior change, or remain the same, over time.
Among its main findings, the research shows that Brazilians prefer audiovisual media when seeking political information. Television is the main source, followed by YouTube and Instagram. When only daily use is considered, WhatsApp ranks first. Mobile phones are the main devices used to access political information.
The pattern is repeated in entertainment consumption. Television, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp lead in daily use, while newspapers, magazines, radio, podcasts, Telegram, and Kwai are among the least used media.
The findings also show that using a medium does not necessarily mean trusting it. Although platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp are among the most used for political information, trust remains highest in traditional media such as television, radio, newspapers, and magazines.
The circulation of disinformation was another topic studied. Most respondents believe they are less susceptible to fake news than other people, especially family members and the general population. Willingness to correct false information is greater in more familiar settings, such as conversations with relatives or private groups. It decreases significantly in public spaces or with strangers.
The research also provides one of the first national pictures of how Brazilians use artificial intelligence applications. Almost a third of respondents say they have never used this type of tool. Among those who have, the main purpose is to search for information and facts of interest. In terms of trust, most say they trust these applications only in some situations, indicating a cautious attitude toward this new technology.
The Panel Survey on Media Consumption and Political Behavior is representative of Brazil’s adult population and uses quotas for sex, age, education, and place of residence. With three waves of data collection planned between 2026 and 2027, the research will track how political events, especially the electoral process, influence Brazilians’ behavior over time.
The first-wave findings are an important source of information for researchers, public managers, journalists, and anyone who wants to understand how Brazilians obtain information, form opinions, and engage with politics in the digital age.