One study even found that false news reached more people and spread significantly faster than the truth (particularly when politics are involved). This means we may not be able to discern reliable information from inaccurate or biased information, especially when search engines and social media algorithms are optimised to prioritise content that aligns with our existing values and beliefs.Įven our responses to news coverage can be biased, with emotional response being the driving factor in whether a news article will go viral. The issue is that when people are under heightened stress and they want to resolve uncertainty, they can lose their ability to weigh and judge information effectively. With more of us spending time at home and online, many of us feel compelled to conduct research ourselves. Concrete evidence about the virus has been frustratingly slow to emerge and the advice given by public health organisations and governments has often felt inconsistent and peppered with caveats. Let’s take a look at the flawed science underlying conspiracy theories and who is behind them.Īt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I published a blog debunking the top 10 most dangerous coronavirus myths, to combat widespread early misunderstanding of the virus.Īs the pandemic has progressed in the two months since my first blog, it has become clear it provides the perfect environment for false rumours and fake news to flourish.
0 kommentar(er)
