The term is sometimes used to specifically refer to the spreading of dirt and misinformation, as (for example) through excited discussion of scandals. Some newspapers carry "gossip columns" which detail the social and personal lives of celebrities or of élite members of certain communities.

Gossip take up to 2/3 of converastion time. It's suggested role is to defend aggainst free riders<ref>[http://attach.matita.net/ziorufus/Dunbar%20gossip.pdf Dunbar, R. I. (2004). Gossip in evolutionary perspective. Review of general psychology, 8, 100-110.]</ref> (parazite), or basicly against ingustice.