How “fake news” became a weapon.
It started as a joke.
Became an accusation.
And turned into a global threat to journalism and truth.
This recap covers what Cunha et al. (2018) taught us about the rise—and distortion—of a viral term.
It started as a joke.
Became an accusation.
And turned into a global threat to journalism and truth.
This recap covers what Cunha et al. (2018) taught us about the rise—and distortion—of a viral term.
Our source:
Cunha et al. (2018)
Fake News as We Feel It: Perception and Conceptualization of the Term ‘Fake News’ in the Media
Presented at SocInfo, published by Springer
academia.edu/43228329/Fake_…
Cunha et al. (2018)
Fake News as We Feel It: Perception and Conceptualization of the Term ‘Fake News’ in the Media
Presented at SocInfo, published by Springer
academia.edu/43228329/Fake_…
Key finding #1: The 2016 election was a turning point.
Before 2016, “fake news” meant satire or clickbait.
After 2016, it became a political slur—used to discredit real journalism.
One moment redefined global media language.
Before 2016, “fake news” meant satire or clickbait.
After 2016, it became a political slur—used to discredit real journalism.
One moment redefined global media language.
Key finding #2: Satire lost its safety.
Audiences stopped distinguishing parody from propaganda.
Politicians blurred the line on purpose.
“Fake news” turned from commentary into combat.
Audiences stopped distinguishing parody from propaganda.
Politicians blurred the line on purpose.
“Fake news” turned from commentary into combat.
Key finding #3: Emotion made it viral.
Sentiment analysis showed a spike in negative emotion tied to the term after 2016.
Fear, anger, and contempt drove engagement—and distortion.
Sentiment analysis showed a spike in negative emotion tied to the term after 2016.
Fear, anger, and contempt drove engagement—and distortion.
Key finding #4: Media amplified the weapon.
Outlets adopted the phrase widely, even while criticizing it.
That gave it reach, repetition, and legitimacy—even when used in bad faith.
Outlets adopted the phrase widely, even while criticizing it.
That gave it reach, repetition, and legitimacy—even when used in bad faith.
Key finding #5: The term lost precision.
“Fake news” began to mean:
Lies
Bias
Disagreement
Satire
Inconvenience
A single term became a multi-tool of confusion.
“Fake news” began to mean:
Lies
Bias
Disagreement
Satire
Inconvenience
A single term became a multi-tool of confusion.
The deeper lesson: vague language is vulnerable.
When terms become emotionally loaded and semantically empty, they’re easy to hijack—and hard to fix.
“Fake news” wasn’t just corrupted.
It was emptied.
When terms become emotionally loaded and semantically empty, they’re easy to hijack—and hard to fix.
“Fake news” wasn’t just corrupted.
It was emptied.
Today, we see that damage clearly.
In 2025, “fake news” remains a global weapon.
Not because it’s accurate—but because it’s emotionally useful.
And that started long before many realized what was happening.
In 2025, “fake news” remains a global weapon.
Not because it’s accurate—but because it’s emotionally useful.
And that started long before many realized what was happening.
Final thought:
If we want to defend truth, we have to defend language.
Not just what we say—
But how we say it, and what we let those words become.
#FakeNews #Disinformation #MediaLiteracy
If we want to defend truth, we have to defend language.
Not just what we say—
But how we say it, and what we let those words become.
#FakeNews #Disinformation #MediaLiteracy
If this thread series helped you think more critically about how disinformation spreads through language, consider supporting our work:
Every contribution helps keep these resources free and accessible.
#MediaLiteracy #PublicEducationpaypal.com/paypalme/publi…
Every contribution helps keep these resources free and accessible.
#MediaLiteracy #PublicEducationpaypal.com/paypalme/publi…
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