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Social Media and Society: Integrating the digital with the social in digital discourse
Edited by Majid KhosraviNik
[Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture 100] 2023
► pp. 107–126

Unpacking disinformation as social media discourse

| Malmö University
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
In this chapter, we examine the role of Discourse Studies in social media disinformation research. While currently underrepresented, Discourse Studies can provide key insights into why disinformation gains traction through credibility building, tapping into existing political narratives and stereotypes. Discourse Studies, we argue, can also bring much-needed attention to the constitutive role of antagonism in disinformation and to the connection between political practices, power relations and platform designs; aspects that are often overlooked. Drawing on three empirical cases – revolving around the Russian Internet Research Agency, fake Muslim Facebook pages and far-right conspiracy theories disguised as tabloid news – the chapter aims to provide a clearer view of the application of Discourse Studies (in its various forms) to disinformation.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Disinformation on social media
  • Discourse studies and social media
  • Fake Muslim Facebook pages and discourse theory
  • Fake Twitter discourse and critical discourse analysis: Jenna Abrams
  • Fake letters to the editor on ‘Folkets Røst’
  • Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 14 April 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.100.06far
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Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Taranenko, Anna
2023. CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS FOR STUDYING DISINFORMATION. Politology bulletin :90 ► pp. 175 ff. DOI logo

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