The four digital horsemen: Disinformation, misinformation, fake news and pseudoscience

Kirjoittajat

• Brian H. Spitzberg San Diego State University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33352/prlg.155840

Avainsanat:

disinformaatio, meemit, misinformaatio, pseudotiede, salaliittoteoriat, valeuutiset, tiedonvälitys

Abstrakti

Deception and information distortion are likely as ancient as communication itself. The contemporary digital media ecosystem, however, has vastly amplified and accelerated the potential reach and deleterious impact of such distortions. Four common digital types of such distortion are examined: misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and pseudoscience, collectively subsumed under the concept of distorted information in media (DIM). DIM threatens the erosion of democratic institutions, civic discourse,  rational policy formation, and public health. As such, DIM poses potential existential threats to humanity. Addressing such threats requires comprehensive theory development. An integrative nested multilevel systems model of meme diffusion (M³D) is posited to  provide a framework for organizing relevant theories, constructs, and research. M³D is organized by exigency, message, communicator, social network, societal context, geotechnical, and outcome levels. The heuristic value of the model is illustrated by its potential for generating testable propositions as a priority for theory development in the area of DIM diffusion.