Visual Disinformation in a Digital Age

Author(s)
Teresa Weikmann, Sophie Lecheler
Abstract

While a fast-growing body of research is concerned with the detrimental consequences of disinformation for democracy, the role of visuals in this context has so far only been discussed superficially. Visuals are expected to amplify the impact of disinformation, but it is rarely specified how, and what exactly distinguishes them from text. This article is one of the first to treat visual disinformation as its own type of falsehood, arguing that it differs from textual disinformation in its production, processing and effects. We suggest that visual disinformation is determined by varying levels of modal richness and manipulative sophistication. Because manipulated visuals are processed differently on a psychological level, they have unique effects on citizens’ behaviours and attitudes.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
Journal
New Media & Society
Volume
25
Pages
3696-3713
No. of pages
18
ISSN
1461-4448
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221141648
Publication date
2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
508007 Communication science, 508014 Journalism
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Communication, Sociology and Political Science
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/visual-disinformation-in-a-digital-age(c959f598-87d4-4f87-bda0-1645a69add45).html