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Landslide

Engines of Outrage Pt. 3

Feb 20, 2025
Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation researcher and former member of the U.S. Disinformation Governance Board, dives deep into the fight against misinformation. She discusses the pivotal role of local messengers, like librarians, in promoting information literacy. The decline of local journalism and how it impacts public knowledge is highlighted, alongside the evolution of political campaigns that leverage emotional narratives. Jankowicz makes a case for innovative strategies to counteract misinformation and reconnect Americans in a shared reality.
31:09

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The prioritization of profit over ethical considerations by social media platforms complicates efforts to mitigate misinformation effectively.
  • Engaging and relatable government communication is crucial in countering disinformation, as dry facts often fail to penetrate sensationalized narratives.

Deep dives

The Impact of Facebook's Algorithm on Misinformation

A study conducted by Facebook in 2020 revealed a troubling reality: posts deemed harmful circulated more rapidly than those considered beneficial. Despite adjusting its algorithm to promote positive content, user engagement dropped notably, leading Facebook to abandon the 'Good for the World' initiative. This situation underscores the ruthlessness of social media platforms prioritizing profit over societal benefit. Such behavior highlights the complexities in mitigating misinformation and the incentives that drive engagement over ethical considerations.

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