The Misinformation Mitigation Toolbox: Dismantling the Digital Deceit
It is no secret that the internet, a hub for innovation and connection, has also become a fertile ground for misinformation. From cleverly disguised clickbait to weaponized social media campaigns, untruths spread faster than a virtual wildfire. Every day, countless misleading posts flood our social feeds, challenging the fabric of democracy and directly affecting fields and industries, most notably public health.
Fighting misinformation is not an easy task. The ever-increasing polarization and greater sophistication of bad actors make it a formidable foe.1,2 These bad actors within the disinformation network can range from state-sponsored troll farms spreading propaganda to political operatives manipulating public opinion.3 Even well-meaning individuals can inadvertently share false or misleading information, contributing to the problem. It’s no surprise that the rise of generative AI has escalated the spread of disinformation and propaganda as never seen before.4
But all hope is not lost. We must arm ourselves—not with pitchforks and torches, but with a far more potent weapon: evidence-based interventions.
A study by a global team of 30 misinformation researchers led by Dr. Anastasia Kozyreva offers a much-needed "toolbox" of strategies empowering individuals to cut through the noise.5
Here's your guide to understanding and utilizing these tools effectively, categorized by their primary aim: influencing behaviors (nudges), boosting competencies (boosts), or directly targeting beliefs (refutation).
References
- Geiger, A. (2021, April 9). Political polarization in the American public. Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/
- Carothers, T., & O'Donohue, A. (2019, October 1). How to understand the global spread of political polarization. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2019/10/how-to-understand-the-global-spread-of-political-polarization?lang=en
- Ong, J. C., & Cabañes, J. V. (2018). Architects of Networked Disinformation. Newton Tech4Dev Network. https://newtontechfordev.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ARCHITECTS-OF-NETWORKED-DISINFORMATION-FULL-REPORT.pdf
- Ryan-Mosley, T. (2023, October 4). How generative AI is boosting the spread of disinformation and propaganda. MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/10/04/1080801/generative-ai-boosting-disinformation-and-propaganda-freedom-house/
- Kozyreva, A., Lorenz-Spreen, P., Herzog, S.M. et al. Toolbox of individual-level interventions against online misinformation. Nat Hum Behav 8, 1044–1052 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01881-0
- Andi, S., & Akesson, J. (2020). Nudging away false news: Evidence from a social norms experiment. Digital Journalism, 9(1), 106-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2020.1847674
- Fazio, L. K., Rand, D. G., & Pennycook, G. (2019). Repetition increases perceived truth equally for plausible and implausible statements. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 26(5), 1705-1710. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-019-01651-4
- Lewandowsky, S. (2020). The debunking handbook 2020. https://skepticalscience.com/docs/DebunkingHandbook2020.pdf
- Basol, M., Roozenbeek, J., Berriche, M., Uenal, F., McClanahan, W. P., & Linden, S. V. (2021). Towards psychological herd immunity: Cross-cultural evidence for two prebunking interventions against COVID-19 misinformation. Big Data & Society, 8(1), 205395172110138. https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517211013868
- Roozenbeek, J., & Van der Linden, S. (2019). Fake news game confers psychological resistance against online misinformation. Palgrave Communications, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0279-9
About the Author
Celestine Rosales
Celestine is a Junior Research Analyst at The Decision Lab. She is a researcher with a passion for understanding human behavior and using that knowledge to make a positive impact on the world. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Social Psychology, where she focuses on issues of social justice and morality. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before joining TDL, Celestine worked as a UX Researcher at a conversion rate optimization company, where she collaborated with a variety of B2B and SaaS clients to help them improve their websites. She also participated in an all-women cohort of scholars trained to do data analytics. Outside of work, Celestine enjoys taking long walks, listening to podcasts, and trying new things.
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