Mechanisms of disinformation and their impact on the citizens of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The article examines the main disinformation mechanisms affecting the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, in a context marked by socio-economic vulnerabilities, ethnic and geopolitical cleavages, and a fragmented media landscape. It analyses the channels of dissemination (television, pseudo-media portals, and social networks such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram) and the manipulation techniques employed, including the emotionalisation of messages, conspiracy theories, contextual distortion, and the flooding of the information space. It presents the relationships between disinformation mechanisms, narratives, and patterns, illustrated through clear examples from everyday life. The article highlights how disinformation affects secondary school students, university students, and older adults differently, generating confusion, anxiety, social polarisation, distrust in institutions, and misguided decisions in the civic, medical, or financial spheres.