Language, Hoaxes, and Information Power on Facebook Social Media

Abstract

The proliferation of hoaxes and misinformation on Facebook has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges to democratic discourse, public health, and social cohesion in the digital age. This article examines the intersection of language, deception, and power dynamics in the creation, circulation, and impact of hoaxes on Facebook's platform. Through analysis of linguistic strategies employed in misinformation narratives, algorithmic amplification mechanisms, and the political economy of attention in social media ecosystems, this study reveals how hoaxes function as instruments of information power that shape public opinion, influence behavior, and undermine epistemic authority. The discussion explores three critical dimensions: the rhetorical and linguistic features that make hoaxes persuasive and shareable, the socio-technical infrastructures that enable viral dissemination of false information, and the power relations that determine whose voices are amplified or suppressed in Facebook's information environment. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing effective interventions to combat misinformation while preserving democratic values of free expression and diverse perspectives in digital public spheres.