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Elfriede Jelinek: I'm not dead! – Fake news shocks fans
False reports about the death of Elfriede Jelinek are causing a stir. The hoax was spread by a fake account.
Elfriede Jelinek: I'm not dead! – Fake news shocks fans
On Tuesday afternoon, June 17, 2025, news about the alleged death of the Austrian Nobel Prize winner for literature Elfriede Jelinek (78) spread rapidly on the Internet. The account on X (formerly Twitter) that spread the message later turned out to be a hoax. The situation highlights the challenges posed by fake news on social media. The Austrian writer reacted calmly to this false report and clarified: "It's the second time that I'm dead. I'm alive."
The news of Jelinek's alleged death was originally posted on the fake account at 1:40 p.m. The hoax came to light at 2:08 p.m. when the operator of the account, Italian journalist Tommasso Debenedetti, admitted that it was a hoax. Debenedetti is no stranger to the world of false reports: he already caused a stir in 2020 with a false death report about the opera star Plácido Domingo. Subsequently, Nora Gottschalk, spokeswoman for Rowohlt, confirmed that the report about Jelinek's death was not true. Numerous Austrian and German media outlets, including “Der Standard”, initially reported on the false report and later apologized for spreading it.
The problem of fake news
This episode is not an isolated case, but is part of a worrying development that is becoming increasingly important in the digital age. As bpb reports, there is an increasing spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation, which are deliberately spread on social media. Such false or misleading information threatens not only public trust in media but also in political institutions.
Research shows that the uncertainty caused by fake news is also due to low trust in media. In particular, the 2016 election year, in which Donald Trump was elected president, and the Brexit referendum fueled the debate about fake news. Scientific studies have revealed that less than 1% of the content that users see on social networks is classified as fake news. Nevertheless, even small amounts of misinformation can have a significant impact on opinion formation and election results.
Measures to combat disinformation
Various initiatives have been taken to combat the spread of fake news. The EU has launched programs such as EU vs. Disinfo and the European Digital Media Observatory to tackle disinformation. Media literacy is also seen as a key approach to combating false reports. It's not just about imparting knowledge, but also about critically examining media content.
In connection with Jelinek's false report, it becomes particularly clear how important it is to be informed about the mechanisms of misinformation. Media literacy is essential to promote trust in reputable sources of information and to recognize dubious content. The episode about Elfriede Jelinek not only shows the risks of fake news, but also the need for improved media education in society.