SOCIAL MEDIA IN INFORMATION WARFARE. ASSAULT WEAPON WITH HIGH RECOIL

Authors

  • Alin PREDA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2668-2001-21-32

Keywords:

social media; StratCom; narrative; strategic communication; propaganda; fake news; informational war; Russia.

Abstract

Beyond the benefits or risks of individual or institutional communication through social media, we must note that it is the perfect environment for fake news and propaganda because of the speed of information propagation, the unfriendly environment for checking sources, algorithms behind social networks and, last but not least, the extremely low cost. In other words, the Internet and web 2.0 have created the favorable framework for the conduct of the war "for minds and hearts", as it can be called the information war waged through social media. Beyond these considerations, the non-regulation of the online domain - the lack of rules, be they deontological, make social media a powerful weapon of attack in this type of war. At the same time, the use of this space by state actors should be done with caution because it involves risks that could result in the loss of the most important action capacity: credibility. This article aims to analyze social media as a tool in information warfare

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Published

2021-11-01