This study examines the evolution of fake news research from 2013 to 2022 using bibliometric analysis, identifying leading authors, institutions, and nations. It identifies three thematic clusters: disinformation in social media, COVID-19-induced infodemics, and techno-scientific advancements in auto-detection. The study introduces three novel contributions: mapping fake news research to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using Prominence percentile metrics to identify critical and economically prioritized research areas, and evaluating the role of generative AI in the propagation and realism of fake news. The research highlights the impact of fake news on health, peace, and industry, emphasizing the need for multi-disciplinary approaches to counteract its sophisticated and pervasive nature. The study also discusses the ethical and accuracy challenges posed by large language models like ChatGPT and suggests future research directions, including the characteristics of individuals who are more susceptible to fake news and the factors that led to the increased interest in this topic.This study examines the evolution of fake news research from 2013 to 2022 using bibliometric analysis, identifying leading authors, institutions, and nations. It identifies three thematic clusters: disinformation in social media, COVID-19-induced infodemics, and techno-scientific advancements in auto-detection. The study introduces three novel contributions: mapping fake news research to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using Prominence percentile metrics to identify critical and economically prioritized research areas, and evaluating the role of generative AI in the propagation and realism of fake news. The research highlights the impact of fake news on health, peace, and industry, emphasizing the need for multi-disciplinary approaches to counteract its sophisticated and pervasive nature. The study also discusses the ethical and accuracy challenges posed by large language models like ChatGPT and suggests future research directions, including the characteristics of individuals who are more susceptible to fake news and the factors that led to the increased interest in this topic.