CDA's Analysis of the Covid-19 Hoax: The Message Behind the Message

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many hoaxes were circulating through various platforms on the internet. As the name implies, hoaxes are false, misleading, and counterproductive to reduce or eliminate coronavirus transmission. This study aims to find out more deeply the meaning behind hoax messages so that the results can be used as a basis for understanding hoaxes and preventing their spread in the future. Critical discourse analysis from Norman Fairclough was chosen as a theory as well as an analytical tool. Hoax messages that have been selected are analyzed in three levels, namely Social structures, Social practices, and Social events. Hoaxes were chosen from three pandemic periods: the pandemic's beginning, during the pandemic, and the pandemic's peak. The study results found that hoaxes were made as simple as possible so that recipients easily understood, agreed, and spread the message. Hoax creators also consider the multimodal aspect where messages must be combined appropriately between text, images, and videos. This makes the hoax message even more convincing. The more ultimate findings show several things that stand out: the use of religious sentiments, distrust in Covid-19 and distrust in the government in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2019 election residue.