War with Azerbaijan 'by will'? How The Onion's satirical news misled internet users
The joke from one of the most famous satirical publications in the United States was taken by many as real news.
After the publication by the American satirical outlet The Onion, messages began spreading on social networks claiming that Senator Lindsey Graham had supposedly "instructed his estate to start a war with Azerbaijan" in his will.
The news quickly spread across various platforms, with some users taking it seriously without paying attention to the source.
In reality, this is satire. The Onion is one of the most well-known humorous publications in the United States, which for several decades has been publishing completely fictional news that mocks politics, social events, and the media agenda. The publication itself openly positions itself as a satirical media outlet.
In the article titled "Lindsey Graham's Will Orders Estate To Start War With Azerbaijan" ("Lindsey Graham's will orders his heirs to start a war with Azerbaijan"), the authors, in The Onion's characteristic manner, take the senator's reputation as a supporter of a tough foreign policy to the point of absurdity.
Despite the obviously humorous nature of the publication, some social media users began sharing it without any explanations, which caused confusion and discussions.
This case once again shows how important it is to pay attention to the source of information. Even obvious satire, taken out of context, can become a cause for the spread of disinformation if readers are not familiar with the publication's features or do not check the original source.
