Click Here 158. The antidote to our disinformation woes? Just a dash of fun
Aug 20, 2024
Renee Diresta, a former Stanford Internet Observatory Research Director and author of 'Invisible Rulers,' delves into the world of disinformation and its emotional underpinnings. She discusses the urgent need for timely analysis to tackle online misinformation, especially related to COVID-19 and the 2020 election. Diresta emphasizes how humor can undermine divisive narratives and explores the challenges faced by researchers combating falsehoods in a politically charged environment. The conversation highlights the potential for lightheartedness to influence serious discourse.
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Rapid Response Research Model
- Renee DiResta co-founded the Stanford Internet Observatory to study and fight disinformation.
- They adopted a rapid response research model inspired by newsroom urgency instead of slow academic cycles.
Emotion Drives Disinformation Spread
- Viral disinformation is less about facts and more about emotion.
- People share content that makes them feel something, fueling the internet's rapid spread of misinformation.
SIO Research Misconstrued
- The Stanford Internet Observatory's work on debunking election fraud conspiracies initially went unnoticed.
- Later, right-wing groups falsely portrayed the research as a plot to silence conservatives, escalating attacks.