The Language of Persuasion

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"We need this common language for the subtler terrain of how the mind is being influenced and persuaded," she says. "This would be a great thing to have baked into the common tech industry because I do think it's almost like a missing component." She adds that those of us who are pushing quality information, we are dreadful at it. 'I'd love to see a full on cultural transformation in journalism and media'

How can tech companies help flatten the curve? First and foremost, they must address the lethal misinformation and disinformation circulating on their platforms. The problem goes much deeper than fake news, according to Claire Wardle, co-founder and executive director of First Draft. She studies the gray zones of information warfare, where bad actors mix facts with falsehoods, news with gossip, and sincerity with satire. “Most of this stuff isn't fake and most of this stuff isn't news,” Claire argues. If these subtler forms of misinformation go unaddressed, tech companies may not only fail to flatten the curve — they could raise it higher.