Making Sense with Sam Harris

#233 — The Groves of Misinformation

Feb 2, 2021

Zeynep Tufekci, an associate professor and opinion writer, dives into the chaotic world of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the early missteps of journalists and public health officials, the dynamics behind mask mandates, and the eroding trust in institutions. Tufekci highlights the complexities of public health messaging, the rise of alternative voices in media, and the need for reform in social media to combat misinformation. There's a pressing call for credible expertise to guide society through future crises.

50:55

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Episode guests

Zeynep Tufekci

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Navigating Misinformation in a Pandemic

15min

Masks and Misinformation

15min

Navigating Trust in a Health Crisis

11min

Erosion of Trust in Institutions and the Rise of Alternative Voices

4min

Navigating the Landscape of Political Cynicism

2min

Sam Harris speaks with Zeynep Tufekci about the problem of misinformation and group-think. They discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, the early failures of journalists and public health professionals to make sense of it, the sociology of mask wearing, the problem of correcting institutional errors, Covid as a dress rehearsal for something far worse, asymmetric information warfare, failures of messaging about vaccines, the paradox of scientific authority, the power of incentives, how to reform social media, and other topics.

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