Majority of Brazilians say family, friends, media, social media do not influence their vote, Datafolha poll finds

Most Brazilians assert that their presidential vote remains unaffected by the opinions of family, close friends, journalists, social media personalities, and religious leaders, according to a recent Datafolha poll. The survey revealed that a majority of respondents across all six categories stated "no influence" when asked about external factors shaping their electoral decisions.

The highest percentage of respondents, 67%, claimed that church leaders have no influence on their vote. This was closely followed by journalists and media figures, with 58% stating they have no impact. When considering partners in stable relationships, 60% said their opinion would not influence their vote, while 61% of parents with children aged 16 or older stated their children's views would not sway their decision.

Close friends and individuals followed on social media each registered 62% of respondents claiming "no influence." Additionally, 7% of those surveyed indicated they do not have religious leaders or do not attend church. When combining responses for "a lot" and "a little" influence, journalists and media figures, along with partners, both reached 38%. Children and close friends followed at 36%, with social media figures at 32%.

However, the poll also highlighted nuances. Men reported a higher likelihood of being influenced by close friends (40%) and social media figures (36%) compared to women (31% and 29%, respectively). Influence attributed to religious leaders varied significantly by education level, with 30% of those with primary education reporting some or a lot of influence, compared to 15% among those with higher education. Regional differences were also noted, with the Northeast region showing a higher percentage (29%) attributing influence to church leaders compared to the Southeast (20%) and South (14%).