Hoaxing refers to the act of deliberately creating and disseminating false or misleading information with the intention to deceive or mislead others. Hoaxes can take various forms, including fabricated news articles, forged documents, manipulated images or videos, misleading social media posts, and other types of misinformation or disinformation.

Hoaxing is often done with a specific purpose in mind, such as causing harm, creating confusion, generating attention, spreading fear or panic, or achieving some form of personal or malicious gain. Hoaxes can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, and may be motivated by various factors, such as financial gain, political or ideological beliefs, desire for attention or notoriety, or simply for the sake of mischief.

Hoaxes can spread rapidly, particularly in the era of social media and online communication, where false information can be easily shared and amplified. They can cause significant harm by misleading individuals, damaging reputations, spreading fear and panic, inciting violence or discrimination, undermining trust in institutions, or disrupting social cohesion.

Hoaxing is generally considered unethical and can have serious consequences. It can lead to misinformation, miscommunication, and confusion, and can erode trust in reliable sources of information. Hoaxes can also have legal ramifications, as spreading false information can result in defamation, fraud, or other legal liabilities.

It's important to note that hoaxing is distinct from satire or parody, which are forms of artistic expression or social commentary that use exaggeration or humor to critique or mock a particular topic or issue. Satire and parody are generally understood to be forms of artistic expression and are not intended to deceive or mislead others, unlike hoaxes which are intentionally created to deceive.