Misinformation really does spread like a virus, suggest mathematical models drawn from epidemiology
By Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology in Society, University of Cambridge
David Robert Grimes, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Public Health & Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin
We’re increasingly aware of how misinformation can influence elections. About 73% of Americans report seeing misleading election news, and about half struggle to discern what is true or false.
When it comes to misinformation, “going viral” appears to be more than a simple catchphrase. Scientists have found a close analogy between the spread of misinformation and the spread of viruses. In fact, how misinformation gets around can be effectively…
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024