Periculozitate

Periculozitate is a neologism used in information studies to describe the phenomenon in which dangerous or sensational quotes are circulated and attributed to individuals or institutions, often to provoke fear, justify policy actions, or influence public opinion. The term encompasses both the spread of such quotes and the perceived peril they convey, as well as the rhetorical mechanisms that make them persuasive.

Etymology and scope: The word combines elements associated with danger (periculum) and quotation (zitate), signaling its focus on perilous attributions. It appears in academic discussions of misinformation, media studies, and digital literacy, where it is used to designate a specific pattern within broader quote-mining and misattribution practices.

Mechanisms: Periculozitate often arises from misquotation (quoting out of context), quotation distortion, or outright fabrication. It is aided by online sharing, captions and headlines that frame a quote as alarming, and by algorithms that reward engagement with sensational content. The effect is to create a perception of consensus or danger where none exists.

Impact and examples: In public discourse, periculozitate can skew debates on health, security, or policy by presenting exaggerated or false statements as authoritative. Analysts distinguish genuine misquotation from deliberate misinformation and emphasize verification of source, full context, and corroborating evidence.

Mitigation: Research concentrates on detection methods, citation provenance, and media literacy education. Practical responses include archiving sources, citing original contexts, and promoting critical reading of quotes in news and online content.