

Is the Misinformation Crisis Overblown?
Dec 9, 2024
Sander Vanderlinden, a social psychology professor at the University of Cambridge, and Hugo Mercier, a cognitive scientist from the Institut Jean Nicod, dive deep into the misinformation crisis. They challenge the narrative of widespread vulnerability to misinformation, suggesting that humans may be more resilient than assumed. The duo also explores how misinformation interacts with personal beliefs and the complexities of vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing trust issues that complicate public health decisions. Their enlightening conversation reveals that the crisis might be more nuanced than it seems.
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Misinformation Crisis Not Overblown
- Sander Vanderlinden argues that the misinformation crisis is not overblown.
- He emphasizes that misleading information, often based on truth but manipulative, is more prevalent than outright falsehoods.
Targeted by Conspiracy Theories
- Anna Rothschild receives messages daily containing conspiracy theories, often related to her last name.
- This highlights the pervasiveness of such theories, even if they target specific individuals.
Challenges in Measuring Misinformation
- Estimates of misinformation exposure vary widely depending on definition and measurement methods.
- Aggregating exposure across platforms and sources is crucial for accurate assessment.