Вестник Московского государственного областного университета (Jan 2021)

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FAKE NEWS AS AN INFORMATION WAR TOOL IN THE PERCEPTION BY GENERATION Z

  • Kamil' N. Akhmadeev,
  • Mikhail G. Bresler,
  • Andrei V. Manoilo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18384/2224-0209-2021-3-1084
Journal volume & issue
no. 3

Abstract

Read online

Generation Z, that will allow adapting the tool in the near future.Methodology. For the study, the information and communication method was chosen, based on the identification of both the structure of communication links between and within groups, and the information content of communication reflecting the perception of values and carried out within the framework of the cluster-network model. In accordance with the goals and objectives of the study, a qualitative and quantitative study of the perception of FN by university students in Ufa, Moscow and St. Petersburg was conducted. The study involved up to 500 students of bachelor’s degrees in the humanities, as well as technical and natural science areas. 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of Generation Z (18 - 22 years). Results. It is revealed that the majority of Generation Z have a negative attitude to the fact of deception in the digital environment. As a result of the analysis of the fake news perception by Generation Z, it was revealed that most often fake news is related to international relations and Russia’s foreign policy. It is determined that the young people evaluate the effectiveness of fake news as an information war tool in at least two aspects: firstly, they believe that fake news can be targeted at certain professional structures, specific institutions and organizations, specific people or groups of people; secondly, fake news affecting the values of the population can have an impact on public opinion, appealing to which the actors of world politics can make certain decisions. Research implications. Information about the effectiveness of fake news as an information war tool in the perception by Generation Z can be used in the context of further studying information wars as a modern phenomenon, in developing measures to counter destructive political technologies, and will also be useful for political scientists and political technologists.

Keywords