false or sensitive information that spreads very rapidly over the internet
World Economic Forum Flags ‘Digital Wildfires’ As Risk to Global Stability.
Submitted by: Kerry from United Kingdom on 12/08/2015
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The concept underpinned by the expression digital wildfire is also sometimes described as simply digital misinformation. The metaphor of fire seems much more appealing however, aptly comparing the damage caused by the spread of misleading facts to the trail of destruction left in the wake of a wildfire. There’s also evidence for the metaphor being carried over into collocates, such as for instance talking about the need to dampen or put/stamp out a digital wildfire.