Author(s): Raluca-Georgiana MUNTENIȚĂ
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2021
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 25/2021
DOI:
Abstract:
Today, the traditional role of the fourth estate is overshadowed by an offensive
phenomenon: fake news. The term popularized by the former US President Donald
Trump highlights that, nowadays, concepts such as truth or precision may undergo
adjustments or interpretations. Some of the reasons why people create fake news are to
make money, to deceive or to harm, to influence other people, to cause social disruptions
and so on. Among those who create this type of content are a) those journalists who turn
from gatekeepers into moneymakers; b) other public persons who use fake news to
denigrate other people; c) useful idiots those naive or credulous people who promote
fake news without actually understanding the cause’s goal; d) trolls people paid to
create and share fake news in social media, and promote a certain agenda in order to
influence other people; e) bots – automated software agents that have a political agenda
and try to manipulate via propaganda and fake news. The spread of disinformation
through social media has a direct link with phenomena such as ideological polarization
or segregation of online users. To stop the fake news phenomenon, it is necessary to focus
on transparency, confidence, and media education.
Keywords: COVID-19, Knowledge production, Knowledge society.
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