The Internet is a place where truth and fiction often intertwine. Fakes have become an integral part of the digital world. But did you know that they come in different forms? Head of SMM Markway Evgeniya Prisukhina will reveal This is a classic example what fakes exist, why they are created, and how not to fall for the bait.
Types of fakes: from hype to creativity This is a classic example
1. Intentional fakes.
This is a classic example. Someone deliberately creates false information to attract attention, cause shock or increase reach. Recently, news appeared online that the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles caught fire. Videos and photos quickly spread across social networks, but later it turned out that it was a hype dump. There was no fire on the hill – just someone’s imagination and desire to go viral.
2. Random fakes.
Sometimes fakes appear not because of malicious intent, but due to banal carelessness or lack of fact-checking. Journalists and bloggers rush to publish without checking the source. For example, in 2023, a number b2b email list of reputable tech publications wrote that Apple was preparing an iPhone with a solar battery. The news turned out to be a lie from an “unnamed source.” Apple quickly denied the information, but there was a lot of noise.
3. Creative fakes.
And this is already the highest level of skill! Some companies deliberatelyThis is a classic example create fakes to attract attention. The same rumor about the closure of Comedy Club or Sunlight.
Russian jewelry brand Sunlight has created one of the most resonant news stories in the history of national marketing. The company announced its “closure,” causing a stir among buyers, but later admitted that it was a prank. Such fakes resemble a mini-performance: first people worry, and then admire the creativity.
However, this story not only went viral, but also resulted in a warning from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
4. Marketing myths
Who hasn’t heard of the “eternal burger” from McDonald’s? The story that how to create an effective proposition for the customer the company created a product that doesn’t spoil for years blew up the Internet. It later turned out that it was a move to promote new eco-friendly packaging. McDonald’s representatives themselves acknowledged the “eternal burger” as a myth, but the hype had already done its job.
Blockchain against fakes: will it help?
A blockchain is a decentralized and often public digital ledger made up of records called blocks that are used to record transactions across multiple computers in such a way that any one participating block cannot be changed retrospectively without changing all subsequent ones. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually much simpler than it sounds.
Let’s say you’re working in Google Docs, all changes are saved automatically and visible to anyone who has access. You can’t just replace the old version without anyone noticing. Blockchain works on a similar principle – it saves the entire history of changes, and any attempts at forgery are immediately detected.
This technology is becoming a powerful tool in the fight against fake content. Why? Because data in the blockchain cannot be changed or deleted without the consent of the majority of network participants. This ensures transparency and immutability of information.
There are also disadvantages of blockchain:
Credibility ≠ truth. Blockchain protects the recorded data, but does not verify its veracity. If false information is recorded in the blockchain, it will remain unchanged, but will not become the truth;
Human factor. People lose keys, fall victim to fraudsters, or enter incorrect data. Blockchain does not protect against human errors;
Centralization of some blockchains. Some networks, especially corporate ones, are not fully decentralized, which means they can be controlled;
Great power requires great power. The technology usa b2b list requires huge computing resources, and its implementation on a global level is a long and expensive process. In addition, there is no clear regulatory framework yet governing the use of blockchain for content verification.
Blockchain is a powerful tool for data security and transparency, but it cannot be used thoughtlessly. It provides immutability, but does not verify truthfulness. Additional verification mechanisms are needed for full trustworthiness.