Digital Misinformation and the Crisis of Awareness: A Study in Applied Linguistics

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of “digital  misinformation” as one of the contemporary challenges facing societies in the age of the digital revolution. The problem lies in the fact that technological tools, which are supposed to serve as means of disseminating knowledge and broadening horizons, may instead be employed to manufacture collective ignorance and disable social awareness. The importance of the topic stems from its gravity: ignorance here is not practiced directly, but rather concealed behind the façade of modernity and progress, making it more influential than traditional illiteracy. The study aims to analyze digital misinformation tools—such as directed algorithms, social platforms, misleading educational applications, and digital advertisements—and to demonstrate their role in reproducing societal oblivion and weakening conscious participation. Methodologically, the study adopts a critical analytical approach that blends theory with practice, showing how digital tools can shift from being instruments of knowledge to mechanisms of awareness suppression. One of the key findings is that technology is not neutral; it may be politically or economically exploited to reshape collective consciousness. Furthermore, technological tools of ignorance contribute to the distortion of values and standards, the reproduction of digital illiteracy, and the weakening of critical thinking. Addressing such a phenomenon requires strengthening digital culture, developing sound media policies, and fostering critical awareness among users.