Repairing the Disinformation Superhighway 0

In an article syndicated by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, three scholars speak out on the role of “social” media in spreading mis- and disinformation, suggesting possible remedies to the flood of falsehoods pouring out of our screens. Here’s a bit of what one of them, a Michigan State professor, has to say (emphasis added); follow the link for the rest.

While misinformation has always existed in media – think of the Great Moon Hoax of 1835 that claimed life was discovered on the moon – the advent of social media has significantly increased the scope, spread and reach of misinformation. Social media platforms have morphed into public information utilities that control how most people view the world, which makes misinformation they facilitate a fundamental problem for society.

The bit I put in bold reinforces something I’ve observed since my earliest days participating in computer bulletin board systems and Usenet: For some reason, persons will believe unquestioningly something they read on a computer screen when they won’t believe the same thing if if happens right before their eyes.

And the reverse is also true: persons will refuse to believe something that happens before their very eyes if some rando on “social” media tells them that it didn’t happen (see the link to Dan Casey’s article in the previous post).

We are a society of stupid willing to cling to the stupid if being stupid makes us feel better, regardless of the harm it will bring in the end.

I am not sanguine.