Misinformation spreads like a contagion; scientists should study it like one
By
Bob Holmes
Summary
This article examines the pervasive problem of misinformation and disinformation spreading online, drawing parallels between viral falsehoods and biological contagions. It highlights how false statements about COVID-19, vaccines, masks, and other topics spread rapidly through digital channels, and argues that scientists should study misinformation using epidemiological methods. The piece references a Cornell University study identifying President Trump as a leading source of COVID-19 misinformation, and explores the societal damage caused by the deliberate spread of false information.
Source
bskyMisinformation spreads like a contagion; scientists should study it like oneknowablemagazine.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe Internet is full of misinformation — that is, inaccurate statements — including the sinister, intentionally misleading subset known as disinformation.
Both are spreading, a contagion that imperils society just as surely as the coronavirus itself.
A new study by Cornell University researchers concludes that President Trump has been the leading
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