Slamming political rivals may be the most effective way to go viral
22 June 2021Study of almost 3 million Facebook and Twitter posts from US media and politicians shows divisive posts dunking on opponents drive engagement on social media.
Study of almost 3 million Facebook and Twitter posts from US media and politicians shows divisive posts dunking on opponents drive engagement on social media.
Latest research on digital interventions deployed by UK government and UNESCO suggests that exposing people to a “microdose” of techniques used by misinformation merchants helps “inoculate” them against fake news about the pandemic.
Social media giant turns to behaviour and communication expert Dr Sander van der Linden to help them tackle the dangerous anti-science myths that circulate online.
A short online game in which players are recruited as a 'Chief Disinformation Officer' and use tactics such as trolling to sabotage elections in a peaceful town has been shown to reduce susceptibility to political misinformation in its users.
An international study finds that people who rate coronavirus conspiracy theories as more reliable are much less likely to say they will get vaccinated.
Go Viral! is a new game developed by Cambridge psychologists in partnership with the UK government to help fight the ‘infodemic’: the deluge of false information about COVID-19.
“The psychology of pandemics was not on my research agenda, but I can tell you one thing: it is now,” says Dr Sander van der Linden. As an expert in psychological and behavioural science, his research has - until recently - been focused on societal risks like climate change and misinformation. Suddenly he has a lot to contribute to the pandemic response.
“Risk perception” among UK population greater than in nine other countries surveyed for latest research.
Researchers at the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication spent the weekend surveying people's attitudes towards the risk of coronavirus, and their governments’ reactions.
A series of experiments – including one on the BBC News website – finds the use of numerical ranges in news reports helps us grasp the uncertainty of stats while maintaining trust in data and its sources.