Whoʼs Afraid of “Kerch Shooter”? Activation of Social Phobias through Rumors and Quasi-Expert Statements

Abstract

On October 17, 2018, a massacre occurred at the Kerch Polytechnic College. The article discusses the information resonance caused by this crime. Panic interpretations of crime information (over 80 sto ries) reflect the social phobias that existed at that time. An example of the tragedy in Kerch shows that the moral panic in a digital society is developing according to new rules. A wide range of actors are involved in interpretation processes, including beneficiaries of this discussion. Among them are jour nalists (professionals and amateurs) who are interested in making their publications resonate, politi cians and officials promoting ideas that are profitable for themselves, Internet users who carry out specific online activities (flash mobs, sweepstakes, chat discussions, etc.), expert and quasi-expert communities, etc.