This open access book deconstructs the core features of online misinformation and disinformation. It finds that the optimisation of emotions for commercial and political gain is a primary cause of false information online. The chapters distil societal harms, evaluate solutions, and consider what must be done to strengthen societies as new biometric forms of emotion profiling emerge. Based on a rich, empirical, and interdisciplinary literature that examines multiple countries, the book will be of interest to scholars and students of Communications, Journalism, Politics, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, and Information Science, as well as global and local policymakers and ordinary citizens interested in how to prevent the spread of false information worldwide, both now and in the future.
Author(s): Vian Bakir, Andrew McStay
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 285
City: Cham
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Authors
Part I: Conceptual Tools and Contexts
Chapter 1: Optimising Emotion: Introducing the Civic Body
Introduction
Optimising Emotion
The ‘Civic Body’
Incubating False Information in the Civic Body
Optimising Society and Subjectivity
Aims, Approach and Argument
References
Chapter 2: Core Incubators of False Information Online
Introduction
The Economics of Emotion
The Attention Economy and Optimised Emotion
Monetising Emotion and Deception
Destroying the Business Model for Real News and Fuelling False Information
The Politics of Emotion
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Affective Contexts Worldwide
Introduction
USA: Affectively Polarised Elections
The Philippines: Affective Clientelism
Sweden: Alt-Right Erosion of Consensus Culture
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: The Nature and Circulation of False Information
Introduction
Deception in Citizen-Political Communications
Contemporary Forms of Deception
Fake News
Deepfakes (and Shallowfakes)
Dynamics of False Information Online
Scale
Virality
Spreaders
Why Share False Information Online?
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Feeling-Into the Civic Body: Affect, Emotions and Moods
Introduction
Feelings in Citizen-Political Communications
Managing Public Feeling: Discourses, Decision-Making and Datafication
Managing Discourses
Managing Decision-Making
Managing Datafication (Optimisation)
Post-truth? Assessing Emotionalised Media
The Emotionality of News
The Emotionality of Social Media
Affective Challenges in Managing COVID-19: Uncertainty, Anxiety and False Information
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Profiling, Targeting and the Increasing Optimisation of Emotional Life
Introduction
Profiling and Targeting in Citizen-Political Communications
Profiling and Targeting in US Political Campaigning
Social Media Platforms: Targeting Tools
Psychographic and Neuromarketing Tools
Campaign Mobile Phone Apps
Profiling and Targeting in UK Political Campaigning
Profiling and Targeting in India’s Political Campaigning
Conclusion
References
Part II: Strengthening the Civic Body
Chapter 7: Harms to the Civic Body from False Information Online
Introduction
Harm 1: Wrongly Informed Citizens
Harm 2: Remaining Wrongly Informed in Digital Echo Chambers
Digital Echo Chambers Exist for Some and Are Damaging
Digital Echo Chambers Are Minimal and Not a Threat
Harm 3: Affective Content, Polarisation, Partisan Misperceptions, Incivility and Hate
Harm 4: Contagion
Harm 5: Microtargeting
Fragmentation of National Conversations
Targeted Suppression of Voters
Undue Influence
Harm 6: Seeding Distrust in the Civic Body
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Defending the Civic Body from False Information Online
Introduction
Solution Area 1: Governmental Action
Non-coercive Responses
Coercive Responses
Solution Area 2: Cybersecurity
Solution Area 3: Digital Platforms/Intermediaries
Solution Area 4: Advertising
Solution Area 5: Professional Political Persuaders and Public Relations
Political Online Ads
Strategic Communications
Solution Area 6: Media Organisations
Restoring Competitive Balance
Rebuilding Trust in Mainstream News
Fact-Checking
Solution Area 7: Education
Correcting False Information Does Not Change Beliefs
Nudges
Reason and Emotion
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Strengthening the Civic Body as the Bandwidth for Optimised Emotion Expands
Looking Backwards: Core Shifts
Looking Forward: Near-Horizon Futures
Scenario 1: The Ministry of Optimised Moods
Scenario 2: Campaigns That Optimise Embodied Emotions
Scenario 3: Profiting from Optimising Fellow-Feeling
Protecting Citizens in the Coming Era of Optimised Emotions
Protecting Mental Integrity
The Last Word
References
Index
