Disinformation as Cultural Narrative

Conceptualizing Disinformation as Cross-Platform, Identity-Affirming, Cathartic Stories

Bibliographic Data

ID12409348
AuthorsAlice E Marwick (Data & Society Research Institute), Arthur Marwick (0000-0002-0837-6999, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, corresponding author), Elaine Schnabel (0000-0002-6166-9803, Weber State University), Shannon C Mcgregor (0000-0002-3275-0397, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Shannon McGregor (Technology, and Public Life (CITAP), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Carolyn Schmitt (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Year2026
Volume43
Issue2
Pages1-25
Publication date2026-04-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1058-4609 • E-ISSN: 1091-7675
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10584609.2026.2644198
OpenAlexW7151078055
LanguageEN
References cited66

Rather than framing disinformation as false facts which can be countered by true facts, we propose a model of disinformation as narrative by tracing three case studies of successful disinformation across Facebook and Twitter. As stories, disinformation disseminates throughout culture and exists at all levels of media and across genres. Using a dataset of content hosted on URLs shared widely on social media corresponding to U.S. left, right, and nonpartisan examples of disinformation, we examine how successful disinformation circulates as narratives across platforms and genres. We find that all three case studies meet the formal criteria of narrative, and that narrative is intrinsically emotional and moral, providing catharsis for those who share it. Understanding that successful disinformation narratives are enforced by cultural forces, are intrinsically linked to identity, and hold deep emotional resonance for those with whom they resonate has vast implications for responding to and countering them.

Discourse analysis · Disinformation · Public discourse · The Internet · Cultural Studies · Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies · Digital Education and Society · Misinformation and Its Impacts

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Open DOIOpen Access