Hoaxes have been a part of mainstream culture for generations. Everyone has heard of such hoaxes as “The Loch Ness Monster”, “The Roswell UFO conspiracy” and “Big Foot” among countless others. Society however has been affected by such hoaxes in a way that is still felt to this day. One of the main ways that society has been affected is in regards to tourism, business and profit but there are also plenty of other ways.

Hoaxes in business, advertising and profit

Some parts of the world make a fortune when it comes to hoaxes. Sometimes, one major hoax is all that it takes for a specific location to become a major tourist attraction that grosses millions in profit in a form of business that can last a lifetime. Timeless examples include Loch Ness where “Nessie” products and merchandise rake in millions, not to mention, countless tourist attractions aimed specifically at “Nessie hunters”. The same thing applies to other such hoaxes as the “Roswell UFO conspiracy” where merchandise and products are aimed specifically to the UFO enthusiast market. A hoax that causes attention affects society by opening the doors to business and profit whether for better or for worse.

Hoaxes on society’s morals and beliefs

Hoaxes can also have a major effect on what people believe, as well as their beliefs in regards to their culture and their places of interest. People have the right to believe what they want to believe and hoaxes can open their minds in regards to understanding which can obviously hold many benefits on society. Of course, when it comes to preserving areas of interest where hoaxes were perpetrated, society can play an important role in protecting these areas as a necessary resource for commerce and business which can prevent them from being destroyed by the government in place for other plans such as buildings and new roads. People that live in areas affected by hoaxes may also have their own “stories” whether factual or not in regards to the origins of the hoax which could subsequently fuel further stories in regards to actual sightings which is a major effect of a hoax on society.

Hoaxes play a major role in the modern world as a prevalent sight in the mainstream media. Society has a lust for the unknown and things that are out of the norm and that is why as soon as something slightly crazy occurs, heads are turned. Everyone loves hoaxes, even when they are revealed to be nothing more than just that, a hoax. However, it is that lust for the unknown, that slight speck of hope that something other than human life and human values and norms exists that keeps people interested. This is a massive effect of hoaxes on society and one that has existed for generations and likely will do for generations to come.