Disinformation In Social Networks: Situation And Prospects

Abstract

Disinformation Concept which is distinctly actual in the field of contemporary medial researches is considered in this Work. We also reviewed its role and place in the mass media discourse, in the context of the so called “post-truth epoch” where thresholds between the truth and falsehood are unclear, a degree of unambiguity in the society is still escalating; as for the objective facts they are replaced by subjective assessments and concerns.

In this case disinformation is understood as an intended transferring of false information to inflict damage. A misinformed intends to disorient an addressee, and for the purpose of manipulation to make a disinformation effect by means of different linguistic means.

We tried to investigate the most typical narratives characteristic for the post-truth epoch.

Hypothesis and results of the work are connected with a mechanism of manipulation in the social network that becomes much more destructive when it is “masked” with myths and emotions, changes of the media user’s mood and estranges oneself from the reality.

Disinformation is particularly dangerous if it, at a glance, is “lost” in an innocent media flow where it is difficult to differentiate truth from propaganda, with the naked eye. The work, also, describes characteristic features of the so called “information noise”.

Disinformation, certainly, is an integral part of the information noise, however its spreading also serves to a definite target, and the noise, as a rule, without any reason and basis, covers the information space and uncontrolled flows cause contamination of the information field.