Fakes as viral mediacontent: functional aspect

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the key features that characterize fake news as a media product and the fundamental intentions underlying fake media content. The study draws a distinction between newspaper hoaxes, rumors, and fake news according to such criteria as their sphere of circulation, form of communication, and degree of reliability. The paper also examines issues related to the identification of unreliable information. The study’s scientific novelty lies in the fact that it is the first to identify and describe the fundamental features of media hoaxes that demonstrate their viral nature; distinguish between two principal intentions – destructive and entertaining; and systematize the extralinguistic and linguistic markers that facilitate the detection of unreliable or unverified information. The study identified three basic characteristics of fake media content – reproducibility, intentionality, and ambiguity regarding its truthfulness. The paper also established their functional ambivalence, which correlates with either destructive or entertainment-oriented intent.