Controlling The digital Narrative: How Fake News Affects The Coverage Of The Repercussions Of The Genocide War On Gaza?

Abstract

The study aims to discover how fake news affects the control of the digital narrative among the audience receiving it via social media networks, during the war of extermination on Gaza, and the extent to which this is reflected in media coverage and public interaction with it. This study falls within descriptive analytical studies The study population was represented on digital platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok by taking an intentional (deliberate) sample of about 100 fake posts circulating on those platforms during the war of extermination on Gaza, in the time period between 10-7-2023 and 4-7-2024. The study used the theory of prioritizing the "agenda" in the study, and the study reached several results, the most important of which are:

1. Facebook topped the list of digital platforms most used to spread fake news during the war of extermination on Gaza, with 65% of the shares.
2. .The study revealed that demonization and portraying the Palestinian resistance as terrorism were the most prominent rhetorical methods used in fake news to guide the narrative during the war of extermination on Gaza, at a rate of 54%.

The study showed that activists who support the Palestinian cause through the digital public's interaction with fake news by reposting, refuting, or commenting negatively or positively ranked first at a rate of 40.90%.