This talk illustrates disinformation as a growing concern within contemporary web-dominated societies. It focuses on how disinformation strategically exploits prevalent cognitive vulnerabilities inherent in the human way of processing information. Drawing upon Jean Baudrillard’s theoretical concept of hyperreality — a condition in which mediated representations become more influential than objective reality and therefore the classic distinction between “the true” and “the false” becomes obsolete — the presentation argues that modern societies increasingly prioritize emotional appeals, subjective perceptions, and personal beliefs over empirical evidence and factual accuracy.
The discussion is framed within the theoretical framework provided by Daniel Kahneman’s dual-process theory, which distinguishes between two modes of cognition: “fast thinking” (characterized by instinctive, intuitive, and emotion-driven judgments), and “slow thinking” (defined by deliberate, analytical, and reflective reasoning). Utilizing this distinction, the talk analyzes the cognitive biases and psychological mechanisms underpinning the widespread tendency among individuals to reject, ignore, or dismiss information that challenges or contradicts their existing opinions, beliefs, and ideological frameworks.
Subsequently, the presentation will formally define disinformation, emphasizing its intentional, manipulative nature and its systematic distortion or fabrication of information to achieve specific political, ideological, or commercial objectives. Particular attention will be paid to how disinformation accelerates the fragmentation of societal discourse, fostering echo chambers, groupthink dynamics, and ideological polarization. Due to their structural features and algorithm-driven dissemination processes, social media platforms are identified as relevant facilitators and amplifiers of disinformation, because they enable the rapid propagation and reinforcement of alternative hyperrealities and create distinct enclaves of ideologically homogeneous groups. Illustrative cases and some practical examples of contemporary disinformation campaigns across various contexts will be presented and critically analyzed to ground the theoretical discussion.
These examples will provide some evidence on how the concrete mechanisms and outcomes of disinformation might have real-world implications and represent relevant dangers for web-based societies. They become a weapon in the wider context of cognitive warfare and the mind is the “new” battlefield in the hyperreality context. Finally, the last part of the talk emphasizes the importance of cultivating critical thinking skills, media literacy, and reflective skepticism as essential countermeasures against disinformation’s pervasiveness and detrimental effects in contemporary society. Particular emphasis in this last part will be devoted to the importance of “suspending the judgment” and different strategies to manage information overload and algorithm-driven dissemination processes to increase resilience against disinformation’s threats.