When discussing the dark side of the internet, it can be divided in to the black and the grey area.

The black area includes illegal activities on the internet such as hacking, fraud and other criminal activity. The grey area is not illegal, but can be considered immoral by, for example, spreading false information.

Counter media (or “alternative media”; “misinformation media”) is a term that describes the kind of media, usually operating on the internet, which publishes information that is not in line with the so-called “mainstream media” or “established media”.

Part of the popularity of counter media can be explained by the fact that the readers can find the kind of information that the established media may refrain from publishing.

Counter media often borrows the style and format of established journalism and, in doing so, also shares the credibility journalism enjoys in the society – for some readers at least.

Nevertheless, counter media tends to publish very biased information whose reliability may be questionable, and the responsibility for fact-checking and source-criticism is transferred to the readers themselves. Counter media does not follow the journalist’s guidelines.

Part of the popularity of counter media can be explained by the fact that the readers can find the kind of information that the established media may refrain from publishing. This may include topical issues that the established media do not report for ethical or political reasons – and this is often what counter media activists would like us to think. People seeking this kind of content tend to search for and believe the kind of information that strengthen their own worldviews and beliefs.

The term “counter media” itself is a new one that is not yet fixed in vocabulary – the phenomenon is becoming more widespread, and commonly accepted terms to describe it are being discussed.