The We Society S9 Ep4: Inoculating the mind: protecting against misinformation with Sander van der Linden
Oct 22, 2025
Sander van der Linden, a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge, dives into the world of misinformation and its societal impact. He discusses the importance of terms like misinformation over 'fake news' and how repeated falsehoods form belief systems. Sander introduces innovative concepts like 'pre-bunking' and shares insights on his engaging Bad News game designed to foster psychological resistance. The dialogue also critiques social media's role and the need for regulatory measures to combat misinformation effectively.
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How Misinformation Becomes Worldview
- Misinformation accumulates into coherent belief systems that reshape how people see the world.
- Repetition, emotion, identity and echo chambers make falsehoods stick and feel socially validated.
Repetition Fuels Perceived Truth
- The illusory truth effect makes repeated false claims feel more accurate because fluency is mistaken for truth.
- Repetition also normalizes sharing the claim, reducing moral resistance over time.
The Election Denial Example
- The 2020 election-denial campaign illustrates the 'big lie' gaining mass belief through relentless repetition.
- Large voter segments believed it despite lack of evidence, showing population-level impact.
