The Language of Polarization: Linguistic and Dissemination Strategies of Economic Disinformation on Facebook

Jazyk polarizace: Lingvistické a distribuční strategie ekonomických dezinformací na Facebooku

Milan PIŠL 

https://doi.org/10.53465/JAP.2025.9788022552806.402-422

 

Abstract: This study examines the phenomenon of economic disinformation, which is disseminated via social media (especially Facebook) with the intention of spreading false or misleading information about economic topics. The digital communication environment, particularly Online Social Networks (OSNs), has become a crucial space for the proliferation of manipulative and deceptive content, often including elements of information warfar. The deliberate distortion of facts through such campaigns aims to destabilize society, mobilize supporters, and influence public opinion. This activity also carries a significant risk for the financial markets and affects citizens’ confidence in economic institutions. The study focuses on the linguistic expression of disinformation messages, analyzing the deployed linguistic and non-linguistic elements. It also reflects on multimodal communication, including visual digital signs (images, videos, memes, etc.). The research findings are based on the analysis of selected Facebook posts and include an interlingual comparison of posts from the Czech and German-speaking environments. Because of the documented difficulty in correcting false information in recipients' long-term memory, the linguistic analysis of these techniques is crucial for understanding propaganda mechanisms and enhancing citizens’ media competence (literacy). Combatting disinformation requires a multi-pronged approach involving technological, economic, legal, and social interventions.

Keywords: disinformation, Facebook, economic manipulation, polarization, linguistic strategies, multimodal communication, media literacy 

Kľúčové slová: dezinformace, Facebook, ekonomická manipulace, polarizace, lingvistické strategie, multimodální komunikace, mediální kompetence

Fulltext: PDF

Language of the paper: Czech

Online publication date: 23 December 2025

Pages: 402 – 422

 

ISBN: 978-80-225-5280-6 (online), 978-80-225-5279-0

ISSN: 2729-8973 (online), 2729-8981

Publisher: Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm

 

How to cite this conference proceedings paper (APA 7^th Edition):

Pišl, M. (2025). Jazyk polarizace: Lingvistické a distribuční strategie ekonomických dezinformací na Facebooku. Jazyková perspektíva. In R. Štefančík (Ed.), Jazyk a politika. Na pomedzí lingvistiky a politológie X (pp. 402–422). Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm. https://doi.org/10.53465/JAP.2025.9788022552806.402-422