“Fake News Panic” explores the history and impact of misinformation, revealing how fabricated stories can ignite public anxiety and political instability. The book examines the psychology of belief, highlighting why certain narratives resonate and spread rapidly, often exploiting existing biases and vulnerabilities.
By analyzing historical incidents like the “War of the Worlds” broadcast and the Satanic Panic, the book demonstrates recurring patterns in the propagation of false information. The book takes a multifaceted approach by dissecting the motives behind creating and spreading false narratives while investigating various case studies, from alien invasions to misleading scientific reports, to understand the origin, dissemination, and impact of hoaxes.
It emphasizes that while technology accelerates the spread, vulnerabilities to manipulation are rooted in human psychology and societal structures. Ultimately, the book advocates for media literacy and critical thinking to navigate the complex information landscape.
Divided into three sections, the book first introduces core concepts, then provides case studies of significant fake news panics, and concludes with strategies for combating fake news. This structure supports the books goal of empowering readers to become more resilient and informed consumers of information in the digital age.
