Social media’s novelty is the speed, reach, and medium of disinformation, not its existence

Evidence

But rumours have been getting people killed since the dawn of time. So, let us return to the point of what is different now? Clearly social media has not invented the practice of disinformation – but it does offer dangerous new ways for it to spread and dupe people. There are three core differences that we should consider in particular: speed; reach; and the medium itself, including how it shapes perceptions of media content. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 326

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the analytical frame that disinformation is old but its dissemination channels are newly dangerous along three axes.
• XREF: connects to: New media cycles repeatedly exaggerate the internet’s power to transcend ordinary social forces — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 58; Social media amplifies timeless misinformation tactics rather than inventing them — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 361; Social media changed misinformation’s speed, reach, and social context — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 314 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Social media did not invent propaganda but reshaped information flow along three axes. #expands (0.93) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 313
• Fake news is deliberately false and evolved from clickbait to political manipulation #expands (0.75) — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 213
• Messaging platforms amplify misinformation but are not its root cause #qualifies (0.72) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 357