Quick Hits
Daily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences
Wouldn’t it be great in the current world if we could inoculate people against misinformation. Sigh! But that will never happen. Wait, you say, it can happen, it is possible, it works! Oh, please tell me more!
Yes, very good news on the misinformation wars.
So, what is this inoculation and how does it work?
Teams of scientists from the University of Cambridge and Bristol behind the Inoculation Science project collaborated with Jigsaw a unit within Google dedicated to tackling threats to open societies.
After conducting seven different experiments with 30’000 participants, they found that viewing a single clip increases awareness of misinformation. The videos introduce concepts from the “misinformation playbook” and includes relatable examples from popular film and TV.
This information is effective for all populations groups and political groupings – simply because most people don’t want to be manipulated. Rather than state opinions the videos are neutral just showing the tricks that are used to manipulate people and this is why they are so effective.
So how can this be spread to the world at large. Well, easily, through YouTube with over 2 billion users worldwide. Google owns YouTube and plans to start a roll out a wave of prebunking programmes in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech republic targeted at emerging disinformation on Ukrainian refugees.
However, the effect is consistent and large compared to other effects such as brand awareness after advertising, but it is only a 5% increase – nothing to be sniffed at but still a long way to go.
Nevertheless, good news, and I hope they get this rolled out in other areas soon. The world needs more prebunking!
Andy Habermacher
Andy is author of leading brains Review, Neuroleadership, and multiple other books. He has been intensively involved in writing and research into neuroleadership and is considered one of Europe’s leading experts. He is also a well-known public speaker, speaking on the brain and human behaviour.
Andy is also a masters athlete (middle distance running) and competes regularly at international competitions (and holds a few national records in his age category).
Reference
Jon Roozenbeek, Sander van der Linden, Beth Goldberg, Steve Rathje, Stephan Lewandowsky.
Psychological inoculation improves resilience against misinformation on social media.
Science Advances, 2022; 8 (34)
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo6254
More Quick Hits
So, Meditation Doesn’t Change Your Brain – Or Does It?
editation can actually change your brain. "Oh, no it can’t!" say these researchers. "Oh, yes it can!" say a lot of other researchers. Does this start to sound confusing? Well, it does because there has been plenty of evidence that...
The Life Factors that Make Lonely People Lonely
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences ou may assume, logically at first glance, that not having contact to people is the most important factor in loneliness. And obviously this does have a large impact — but...
How Music Helps With Collective Grief
his study recently out analyses a fascinating episode in China at the start of the pandemic. A group of international musicians in Shenzhen produced a viral hit in China. This was a cover version of Michael Jackson's “you are not alone”...
Why it pays for companies to help workers have a good day in the office
usiness and executives in those businesses are more than keen to get a competitive advantage. To this end they invest heavily in technology and getting the right people to do the job. But, I am sure, we are all more than aware that the work...
Vaccination to Keep Your Memory?
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences ho wouldn’t want to keep their memory when aging?! Well, researchers have just announced some promising results in mice enabling them to keep their memories and avoid some of...
Can Having More Children Reduce Cognitive Functioning?
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences aving more children and late life cognition is not something that is generally researched. There are more obvious avenues such as diet, education, exercise, or socio-economic...