Disrupting mis/disinformation
We swim in a sea of information — in newspapers and online newsrooms; on television, radio and podcasts; in social media and email from friends, family … and from strangers. Not all of the information that flows our way is helpful, useful, or even true. With access from disparate sources, it is often difficult to recognize which is disinformation, misinformation, malinformation, and accurate information. How do we determine what is accurate or true?
There is misinformation, something incorrect that is shared without intent. There is also disinformation, which is purposeful and intended to mislead. And there is the even darker malinformation, broadcasted and shared with the intention to mislead and possibly harm. While misinformation is accidental, disinformation campaigns are intentional and dangerous. People become convinced of false information and act on it.
When inundated with a constant stream of unverified input, repeated lies, distortions, and conspiracy theories, people may reject true information and the people who are sharing different, more accurate information as well.
As we prepare to enter another political season, join Western Washington University’s Professor of Psychology, Dr. Ira Hyman, as he shares what we know about the misinformation and disinformation, its prevalence, how to identify it, and what we and others can do to disrupt mis- and disinformation and prevent its spread.
About Ira Hyman
Dr. Ira Hyman is a Professor of Psychology at Western Washington University. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and Ph.D. from Emory University. He has published research on how false ideas stick with us, how conspiracy theories take shape, how song lyrics are remembered, the creation of false childhood memories, collaborative remembering, memory for traumatic events, inattentional blindness, and eyewitness memory. He even has evidence to support the intrusive so called “ear worm” — that song you just can’t seem to get out of your head.