The core issue addressed in this article concerns the significance and timeliness of the subject, namely the role of social media in information warfare. The literature still reveals notable gaps in addressing social media as the primary battlefield in information warfare. The authors’ preliminary research, grounded in a systematic review of the relevant literature, revealed substantial gaps in the current state of knowledge. The novelty of this study, therefore, lies in its conceptualization of social media as the primary battleground of information warfare. Information warfare is situated within the broader domain of cognitive warfare (CW), which seeks to influence human cognition, encompassing ideas, emotions, and perceptions, and thereby inducing changes in attitudes and behaviors. For purposes of academic inquiry, the article provides a clarification of terminology and highlights key conceptual distinctions in this field. The study offers a structured synthesis of the technological, normative, and cultural dimensions of the principles, objectives, and countermeasures associated with information warfare. The findings confirm that social media constitute the central arena for the conduct of such operations. The study further underscores the importance of employing advanced AI solutions to detect and neutralize disinformation techniques such as fake news and deepfakes, which increasingly undermine trust in digital communication. At the same time, the findings highlight the necessity of fostering media literacy, information verification skills, and cognitive resilience at the societal level as long-term defense against manipulative narratives. The study calls for development and harmonization of legal frameworks governing digital security and ethical application of AI.