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| Science & Technology |
| RETRO: Combining interventions to reduce the spread of viral misinformation |
| 2023-08-09 |
| [Nature] ABSTRACT Misinformation online poses a range of threats, from subverting democratic processes to undermining public health measures. Proposed solutions range from encouraging more selective sharing by individuals to removing false content and accounts that create or promote it. Here we provide a framework to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing viral misinformation online both in isolation and when used in combination. We begin by deriving a generative model of viral misinformation spread, inspired by research on infectious disease. By applying this model to a large corpus (10.5 million tweets) of misinformation events that occurred during the 2020 US election, we reveal that commonly proposed interventions are unlikely to be effective in isolation. However, our framework demonstrates that a combined approach can achieve a substantial reduction in the prevalence of misinformation. Our results highlight a practical path forward as misinformation online continues to threaten vaccination efforts, equity and democratic processes around the globe. Related: Misinformation: 2023-07-14 Nobel Prize winner denounces alarmist climate predictions: ‘I don't believe there is a climate crisis' Misinformation: 2023-07-05 Happy 4th of July, USA - a Louisiana court just ruled it was illegal for USG to censor Twitter/Fb - but Australia is now doing this and MORE Misinformation: 2023-05-11 Anheuser-Busch stock downgraded by HSBC analysts over Bud Light 'crisis' |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #2 What would be "viral" or "trending" if not for the echo-chamber silos of social media and media as entertainment rather than enlightenment? |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-08-09 11:13 |
| #1 Perhaps just a bit more skepticism of fashionable claims? And the more fashionable, the more skepticism? |
| Posted by: Tom 2023-08-09 11:10 |