Clickbait and Switch: The Viral Spread of Social Media Misinformation

Nov 8, 2023

Professor Tim Caulfield discusses the impact of media on health policy and science literacy. Topics include false balance in the media, unproven wellness hacks endorsed by celebrities, predatory journals, motivation behind spreading misinformation, challenges faced by scientists on social media, and the difficulties of changing beliefs and combating misinformation.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Problem of False Balance in Media

02:29 • 6min

RFK Jr.'s Decision not to Debate and the Concept of False Balance

08:27 • 2min

The Appeal of False Balance and the Spread of Misinformation

10:01 • 11min

Challenges of Misinformation on Social Media

21:13 • 20min

The Challenges of Changing Minds and Combating Misinformation

41:26 • 4min

On this week's podcast episode, Professor Tim Caulfield joins us to discuss the media's impact on health policy and science literacy. We dig into the concept of false balance with recent examples, and the phenomenon where people turn to unproven wellness hacks and advice endorsed by celebrities as opposed to evidence-based expert guidance. We talk about predatory journals and publications that muddy the waters and their impact consumption of science information. And of course, we cover the motivation of those who spread misinformation and how that shapes individual and collective behaviors. This was a very interesting and dynamic conversation that you definitely don't want to miss!

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