TED Talks Daily The real-world danger of online myths | Vidhya Ramalingam
37 snips
Dec 5, 2024 Vidya Ramalingam, a counter-terrorism expert focused on disinformation's impact on violence, discusses the dangerous repercussions of online myths. She highlights how misinformation threatens climate scientists and can lead to real-world violence. Ramalingam introduces 'prebunking', a proactive method to empower people in recognizing and rejecting manipulative messaging before it spreads. She stresses the need for communities to adopt strategies to counteract false narratives, especially during critical events like elections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Threats to Climate Scientists
- Climate scientists receive abusive messages, including death threats, due to their work.
- A survey revealed 39% faced online abuse, with 18% receiving threats of physical violence.
Eco-fascism and Violence
- An El Paso Walmart shooter killed 23 people, identifying as an "eco-fascist."
- He believed in climate change but blamed immigrants, showcasing disinformation's role in justifying violence.
Misinformation vs. Disinformation
- Misinformation is false or misleading information.
- Disinformation is intentionally spread to cause harm by exploiting grievances and offering simplistic solutions.