Mapping research on disinformation and misinformation across the Nordic countries: An integrative review

Hilkka Grahn, Bente Kalsnes, Elsa Isaksson, Eva Mayerhöffer, Jón Gunnar Ólafsson, Jesper Falkheimer, Frederik Møller Henriksen, Jakob Bæk Kristensen, Dominic Saari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Social media and artificial intelligence have made it easier than ever to create and widely spread manipulated content. Recent geopolitical and digital developments underscore the need for more research on the topic, even in the Nordic countries with their recognised resilience against dis- and misinformation. This integrative review (N = 359) examines how dis- and misinformation have been studied across disciplines in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden between 2014 and 2024. The diversity of terminology and fields in this research highlights its significance and the potential for cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration. The article identifies five main topics within the literature: security and Russia's actions; media and fact-checking; health; media literacy; and social media. While Nordic countries share similarities in dis- and misinformation research, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are more closely aligned with each other than with Denmark or Iceland. This study also identifies research gaps, including the need for more psychological and cognitive science research on dis- and misinformation. Overall, it provides a more comprehensive understanding of dis- and misinformation in the Nordic countries than previously available.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-220
Number of pages46
JournalNordicom Review
Volume46
Issue numbers1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Hilkka Grahn et al., published by Sciendo.

Other keywords

  • disinformation
  • fake news
  • information influence
  • information operations
  • security

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