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Brazil’s social media war: How did ‘Faz o L’ become the epicenter of disinformation?
In Brazil, the slogan "Faz o L" has become a focal point of contention among political supporters since the 2022 presidential election. The slogan originated from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's gesture during the election and has gradually evolved into an important symbol of the clash of different political views on social media platforms.
As a meme, 'Faz o L' combines multiple meanings together, providing a sense of identity and participation for different supporters.
Supporters of Lula's pro-Lula Workers' Party (PT) used the slogan to express their admiration for the new government and highlight its stark contrast with the previous one. However, Lula's opponent, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and his supporters have adopted the phrase to satirize and criticize the new government's policies. This social media battle is not limited to political debates, but also involves the rapid spread and reproduction of false information. During one violent incident, political influencer Letícia Lourenço's home was shot at, and she responded publicly:
"I see completely pointless people commenting, 'Be an L now.' But I will still stick to being an L because the people who hurt me didn't do it."
Although "Faz o L" was originally a slogan in support of Lula, it has now been attacked and distorted by false information. Many online movements began combining the phrase with false claims about various policies of the Lula government, such as criticism of new taxes, social welfare cuts, and changes to labor laws. For example, in March 2023, a viral graphic claimed that rising fuel prices were due to the Lula government’s tax policies.
“The picture was actually taken in 2015, and the original text asked customers to complain to Dilma about the price increase.”
The spread of this information caused a huge response on social media. For example, a related tweet on Twitter was viewed 556,000 times, received 28,900 likes and 4,700 retweets. This phenomenon shows how current false information is carefully designed to confuse the public and trigger strong reactions from society. What’s even more interesting is that this slogan bombardment is not limited to Lula’s supporters and opponents. Politicians also use the slogan "Faz o L" to attack each other. For example, João Amoêdo, a prominent businessman and founder of the neoliberal party Novo, said after the 2022 elections:
“They asked me to do L, but I will not do L. I just wanted to get rid of B (Bolsonaro’s representative), and that mission has been accomplished.”
Another controversial incident was the appearance of a fake arrest warrant in the Brazilian National Penitentiary Database, which even included the sarcastic words "publique-se, intime-se e faz o L" (let it be announced, notified and made an L). It highlights how social media can be used to mock and demean opponents and deepen social divisions. Not only that, rumors against Lula’s government have also begun to have an impact on Brazil’s social governance. On March 18, 2023, the PT party filed a criminal complaint against a mayor for remarks linking a rise in murders to Lula. These behaviors show that social media is not only a platform for disseminating information, but also a hotbed of political struggles and social divisions. Overall, the simple phrase "Faz o L" has become a core element in Brazil's current political ecosystem through its widespread use on social media. Whether it is used for praise, satire or shifting responsibility, its influence cannot be underestimated. However, how will the proliferation of this false information affect the future political landscape, as well as society’s understanding and response to such information, is worthy of our reflection?
