Scientist Patricija Lenčiauskienė warns: it is important for each of us not only to be able to recognize false content, but also to understand how it can affect our worldview. “Sometimes people say: ‘It has nothing to do with me.’ Well, it’s impossible for it to have absolutely nothing to do with it. One way or another, it has an influence: you remember what you saw, you form an opinion, then you go to vote… And if you don’t check whether what you saw is true, you can make decisions based on false information,” emphasizes the expert.
Disinformation – not accidental noise
According to Dr. P. Lenčiauskienė, disinformation today is not just false information that appears by chance. It is often purposefully created and disseminated with a clear goal: to influence public opinion, provoke emotions, or even incite discord. This is especially characteristic of political communication, where information becomes more than just a means of transmitting news.
According to her, it is often not facts that work, but emotions: anger, fear, disappointment, or indignation. “Disinformation is often based on emotion – it creates a strong reaction, and then people share the news without even checking it,” says Dr. P. Lenčiauskienė.
Read more UK withdraws its remaining diplomats from Iran
She adds that such processes intensify especially during sensitive periods: during elections, in the face of political crises, or when important changes are taking place in society. At that time, the information space is filled with contradictory messages, and it becomes more difficult for people to distinguish between fact and manipulation.
