The research work of Ricardo Soares, a doctoral researcher on FPCEUP's Doctoral Programme in Educational Sciences and a member of CIIE, was featured in the main Portuguese news outlets on 1 June 2025.

In his thesis, entitled Educational implications of populism in Portugal: from individual attitudes to collective narratives on social networks, Ricardo Soares has studied, under the supervision of Carla Malafaia and Pedro Ferreira, the phenomenon of populism in Portugal on three levels:
- individual, analysing the populist attitudes of young-adults;
- on social networks, exploring which populist narratives are shared and contested and using which digital-visual strategies;
- and in relation to education, problematising the role that formal education contexts can play in mitigating the current challenges.

The interview he gave to Agência Lusa about his project was mentioned in two news items.

The first article deals with the role of ‘influencers’ in the political education of young people, and Ricardo points out, for example, that ‘these actors tend to propagate nationalist, xenophobic narratives and normalise gender stereotypes or sexual discrimination’.

Lusa: https://www.lusa.pt/national/article/2025-06-01/45076480/populares-e-vistos-como-%C3%ADdolos-influencers-alimentam-narrativas-extremistas-entre-os-jovens

Público: https://www.publico.pt/2025/06/02/p3/noticia/vistos-alfas-vidas-luxo-influencers-alimentam-narrativas-extremistas-machistas-jovens-2135200

Expresso: https://expresso.pt/geracao-e/2025-06-01-tem-milhares-de-seguidores-e-ostentam-vida-de-luxo-idolos-dos-jovens-alimentam-discriminacao-racial-e-ataque-as-mulheres-e-minorias-f4399f6c?_gl=1*lragkx*_ga*SzNJY0JPNFhBSXBWSFZSMGZoX1JBNG1mb2lONndKSzhudFdDVDlxUXFaOGVBWW1ZNE5ySlZjNjhVWXlyMnZpbg

Observador: https://observador.pt/2025/06/01/populares-e-vistos-como-idolos-influencers-alimentam-narrativas-extremistas-entre-os-jovens/

Comunidade Cultura e Arte: https://comunidadeculturaearte.com/videos-com-narrativas-extremistas-contra-mulheres-e-minorias-ganham-popularidade-entre-jovens/

SAPO: https://www.sapo.pt/noticias/atualidade/populares-e-vistos-como-idolos-influencers_683c2a62d8fe5a13a37b0142

Mais Ribatejo: https://maisribatejo.pt/2025/06/01/influencers-populares-propagam-mensagens-extremistas-entre-os-jovens-nas-redes-sociais/


In the second article, Ricardo points out that the populist attitudes of young adults are related to the consumption of information on social networks. He also emphasises the important role of experiencing a democratic climate in formal education contexts, noting that far-right young people ‘report having experienced a less democratic climate in universities and schools’.

Lusa: https://www.lusa.pt/article/2025-06-01/45076082/educadores-sentem-se-numa-competi%C3%A7%C3%A3o-desleal-com-as-redes-sociais-para-formar-jovens

SIC Notícias: https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2025-06-01-educadores-sentem-se-numa-competicao-desleal-com-as-redes-sociais-para-formar-jovens-78eea729

SAPO: https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/educadores-ou-redes-sociais-quem-vai-ganhar-a-competicao-desleal-para-formar-jovens

MSN: https://www.msn.com/pt-pt/noticias/sociedade/educadores-sentem-se-numa-competi%C3%A7%C3%A3o-desleal-com-as-redes-sociais-para-formar-jovens/ar-AA1FRGVj