Do WhatsApp news channels help users navigate the information environment? A field experiment on information-related attitudes

Messaging applications have become central sources of news, especially in the Global South, raising concerns about the quality of information circulating in these spaces. This study examines how receiving news through WhatsApp channels shapes key information-related attitudes in Brazil, including misinformation belief, news fatigue, and media trust. In a pre‑registered experiment conducted in November/December 2024, 601 participants from multiple Brazilian states were asked to subscribe to either a regional news channel or a fact‑checking channel operated by Globo, the largest media group in Latin America. The results show that accessing news via WhatsApp does not alter more stable attitudes, such as belief in misinformation or trust. However, it does reduce news fatigue and increases engagement with news on WhatsApp. As news consumption shifts toward private messaging platforms, these findings suggest their value lies less in reshaping political attitudes and more in maintaining routine connections between audiences and journalism.