The role of fake news and viral content in shaping responses to international crises

Abstract

This article examines the role of fake news and viral content in shaping responses to international crises in the context of the digitalization of global politics. The aim of the study is to identify and analyze the mechanisms through which disinformation and viral media content in the digital environment influence the perception of international crises. The research is based on the constructivist approach, comparative analysis and the case study method. The empirical basis of the research includes an analysis of two international cases, the COVID-19 pandemic and the European migration crisis of 2015-2016, as well as data from international organizations and research centers. The scientific novelty of the study is determined by a comprehensive approach that enabled an in-depth analysis of the digital information space and the identification of key mechanisms trough which fake news influences crises perception. The study’s findings demonstrate that the digital information environment, through the identified interrelated mechanisms, acts as an independent factor in shaping responses to international crises. Accordingly, it is concluded that disinformation has become a significant element of the contemporary informational space of international politics and influences both the nature and the coherence of international crisis responses.

Keywords: fake news, viral content, international crises, disinformation.