Digital disinformation and democratic destabilization: mechanisms, risks and prospects for counteracting it
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RIS BIB ENDNOTEData publikacji: 28.11.2025
Zoon Politikon, 2025, 16/2025, s. 1-32
https://doi.org/10.4467/2543408XZOP.25.001.22813Autorzy
Digital disinformation and democratic destabilization: mechanisms, risks and prospects for counteracting it
In an era in which digital technologies profoundly shape access to and dissemination of information, disinformation is one of the most insidious threats to democratic societies. This contribution aims to analyse the contemporary mechanisms of creation and dissemination of disinformation online, with a particular focus on the risks arising from social media, the current functioning of their algorithms and deepfake technology. The article examines the strategies through which state and non-state actors use manipulated content to shape public opinion, erode trust in institutions, polarize public discourse and influence electoral processes. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the text offers an overview of the new forms of digital propaganda and their historical evolution, underlining the continuity between ancient practices of manipulation and modern disinformation technologies. Particular attention is paid to the concept of parasocial opinion leaders, a central figure in new digital ecosystems, and to the role of algorithms in reinforcing cognitive biases and radicalization phenomena. Finally, some reflections are offered on tools and strategies to combat disinformation, from the regulation of platforms to the strengthening of media education, with the aim of promoting critical and resilient citizenship. The article thus intends to contribute to the academic debate on disinformation as a geopolitical, social and epistemological challenge, proposing a theoretical framework useful for further research and effective policies.
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Informacje: Zoon Politikon, 2025, 16/2025, s. 1-32
Typ artykułu: Oryginalny artykuł naukowy
Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma (UNINT)
Włochy
Publikacja: 28.11.2025
Otrzymano: 23.04.2025
Zaakceptowano: 19.11.2025
Status artykułu: Otwarte
Licencja: CC BY-SA
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