The dissertation examines the phenomenon of rumors as a distinctive form of informal communication in the system of social communications, focusing on their specificity, content, life cycle, and distribution algorithms in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.
It has been established that rumors in today's information age have attained unprecedented levels of influence and potential danger, primarily due to the proliferation of social networks. Their propagation can potentially pose a threat to social order and state security, as well as people's lives and well-being.
The author proposes a periodization of scholarly works on rumors, which spans three stages - classical, modern, and postmodern theories. The study identifies key functions of rumors, including informative, affiliative, educational, narrative, compensatory, mobilization, and social control.
Furthermore, the research uncovers 16 primary algorithms for disseminating rumors, categorized into "white" and "gray" areas. The study presents a universal rumor propagation algorithm comprising four stages: rumor launch, legalization, scaling, and reaching a broad audience. The multifaceted impact of rumors as a socio-communicative phenomenon is analyzed, highlighting their role in the spread of misinformation and as an indicator and shaper of public opinion. Additionally, the study illustrates how rumors can act as a quasi-democratic management mechanism in conditions of lack of effective democratic institutions.
The author's empirical analysis of a survey of 2,023 Internet users and 670 rumors spread between February 24, 2022, and December 31, 2023, reveals that Ukrainian society is more susceptible to rumors, particularly those related to war and security, which evoke strong emotional reactions. People tend to trust rumors from reliable sources.
The dissertation presents a comprehensive system for countering rumors, including response and preventive measures. Countermeasures are proposed at three levels: strategic, operational, and tactical, emphasizing the importance of a strategic communications system and an algorithm for responding to rumors.
Finally, the study offers practical recommendations on communication methods for responding to rumors based on the situation and preventive measures to curb the spread of destructive rumors.
The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time, the specifics of rumors in the system of social communications in war conditions were revealed, the peculiarities of their distribution were deeply investigated, the own periodization of scientific works was developed, communication tools for countering rumors, the life cycle of rumors and a universal algorithm for their distribution were established.
Overall, the dissertation's scientific novelty lies in the revelation of the specific characteristics of rumors in the context of social communications during war conditions, a thorough investigation of the intricacies of rumor distribution, and the development of a novel periodization of scholarly works on rumors. Also, the life cycle of rumors and a universal algorithm for their distribution were established, and communication tools for countering rumors were proposed. The research provides a scientific basis for further empirical inquiry and offers practical insights for policymakers and civil society representatives.
