Sander van der Linden

In this discussion, Sander van der Linden, a social psychology professor at the University of Cambridge, delves into misinformation and how to counter it. He shares his unexpected journey from banking to academia, driven by early experiences with deception. Sander explains the concept of psychological inoculation—training individuals to identify misinformation before it's encountered—and the innovative Bad News game designed to enhance awareness. He also explores the economics behind fake social media accounts and emphasizes the need for media literacy and platform reforms while expressing cautious optimism about bipartisan efforts to combat misinformation.

Join Ash Sarkar, a political commentator, Sander van der Linden, a social psychology expert, and Matt Shea, a documentary filmmaker, as they unravel the complex world of the manosphere. They discuss how influencer culture weaponizes masculinity, turning isolation into a breeding ground for misinformation. The panel delves into figures like Andrew Tate, the tactics they employ, and the psychological impact on young men. Strategies to combat these damaging narratives and the importance of critical media literacy are also highlighted.

In the latest episode of Nature hits the books, psychologist Sander van der Linden joins us to discuss his new book Foolproof, which focuses on misinformation and what can be done to prevent people being duped, particularly by the falsehoods found online.We discuss how misinformation messages are crafted, why they can be hard to shake once someone is exposed, and how Star Wars: Episode 3 helped in the fight against them…Foolproof, Sander van der Linden, Fourth Estate (2023)Music supplied by Airae/Epidemic Sound/Getty images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful conversation, Sander van der Linden, a Cambridge University professor and author, reveals how misinformation spreads like a virus. He introduces the concept of 'pre-bunking'—exposing individuals to weakened misinformation to build immunity. Sander discusses individual susceptibility to misleading information, emphasizing the role of cognitive biases and technology. He also explores the dangerous intersection of misinformation and group identity, highlighting its potential to incite real-world violence. Ultimately, he advocates for early education as a tool for resilience against misinformation.

Sander van der Linden, PhD, researcher at Cambridge University, discusses the prevalence of misinformation, why it spreads like a virus, and strategies to combat it. He explores the impact of generative AI technology, recognizing and combating false political information online, the disparities between traditional media and social media in fact-checking, and the role of community leaders in spreading accurate information.