How Misinformation Spreads
Among the more worrisome aspects of dis- and misinformation in the digital age are the number of people it can reach in a short time, and the persistent recurrence of its narratives in online spaces. What facilitates its spread on social media? How do traditional media amplify disinformation? This collection addresses scholarship on network effects and individual behaviors in spreading misinformation.
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Explore course modules, handouts, teaching tools and syllabi about dis- and misinformation.
Latest News on How Misinformation Spreads
Kat Massey was a visible figure in Buffalo, New York. A longtime civil rights advocate who was active in various local causes, she also contributed articles to the Criterion and the Challenger, two Black newspapers in the city, the latter of which was founded in 1963 to, in its own words, offer the African-American community […]
By Jon Allsop
When Hana found out she was pregnant, she knew she wanted to have an abortion – but her search for a clinic on Google led her to an anti-abortion centre, set on talking her out of her decision. In many US states, BBC News has seen misleading websites advertising these clinics appearing high up in […]
By Rachel Schraer
The town of Rockwall, Texas, has a few claims to fame: Bonafide Betties Pie Company, where “thick pies save lives”; the mega-sized Lakepointe Church; and Lake Ray Hubbard, which is lovely until the wet, Texas heat makes a shoreline stroll feel like a plod through hot butter. Now add to that list: Rockwall is home […]
By Cory Turner and Eda Uzunlar
Last month, Factchequeado launched as a way to address misinformation in Latino and Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. Founded by Laura Zommer of Chequeado in Argentina and Clara Jiménez Cruz of Maldita.es in Spain (both are fact-checking organizations), The idea for the venture emerged when Jiménez started noticing that misinformation in Spanish targeting U.S. […]
By Hanaa' Tameez
On this week’s show, we share an excerpt of a new podcast hosted by friend-of-the-show and NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny. The podcast follows one the the most viral and lingering conspiracy theories to come out of the pandemic. It all started when a nurse called Tiffany Dover fainted on camera after getting a Covid […]
By WNYC Studios
Kat Massey was a visible figure in Buffalo, New York. A longtime civil rights advocate who was active in various local causes, she also contributed articles to the Criterion and the Challenger, two Black newspapers in the city, the latter of which was founded in 1963 to, in its own words, offer the African-American community […]
By Jon AllsopWhen Hana found out she was pregnant, she knew she wanted to have an abortion – but her search for a clinic on Google led her to an anti-abortion centre, set on talking her out of her decision. In many US states, BBC News has seen misleading websites advertising these clinics appearing high up in […]
By Rachel SchraerThe town of Rockwall, Texas, has a few claims to fame: Bonafide Betties Pie Company, where “thick pies save lives”; the mega-sized Lakepointe Church; and Lake Ray Hubbard, which is lovely until the wet, Texas heat makes a shoreline stroll feel like a plod through hot butter. Now add to that list: Rockwall is home […]
By Cory Turner and Eda UzunlarLast month, Factchequeado launched as a way to address misinformation in Latino and Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. Founded by Laura Zommer of Chequeado in Argentina and Clara Jiménez Cruz of Maldita.es in Spain (both are fact-checking organizations), The idea for the venture emerged when Jiménez started noticing that misinformation in Spanish targeting U.S. […]
By Hanaa' TameezOn this week’s show, we share an excerpt of a new podcast hosted by friend-of-the-show and NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny. The podcast follows one the the most viral and lingering conspiracy theories to come out of the pandemic. It all started when a nurse called Tiffany Dover fainted on camera after getting a Covid […]
By WNYC Studios