The Human Error Behind Fake News with David Rand

PodcastJuly 26, 2021
Two stick figures standing outside near an orange sign reading "NEWS FULL OF FAKE STORIES!" with one figure asking, "BUT HOW DO WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE?" under a sunny sky with birds.
“

Once you go down a rabbit hole of bad information, it’s hard to get out. Not because you’re motivated, necessarily, but because it’s really corrupted your basic beliefs about the world.

Listen to this episode

spotify button background imagespotify button background image

Intro

In this episode of the podcast, Brooke is joined by David Rand, professor of Management Science and Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. Together, the two explore David’s research on misinformation, trying to understand why people believe fake news, why it is spread in the first place, and what people can do about it. Brooke and David also discuss real-life applications of strategies to prevent misinformation, especially as it pertains to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and news outlets.

Specific topics include:

  • The categories of fake news, including blatant falsehoods, hyperpartisan news, and health misinformation
  • The roles that bots, algorithms, and humans play in the dissemination of fake news
  • How algorithms fail to analyze why people pay attention to certain information
  • The tension between our preferences and our limited cognitive abilities
  • How our beliefs can be tied to our social identities
  • How media platforms can do create healthier ecosystems for information processing
  • Platforms’ imperative to be proactive, rather than playing catch up with misinformation
  • And does controlling the spread of misinformation infringe on the freedom of speech?

About the Guest

David Rand

David Rand

A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Sloan School of Management and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, David Rand’s research bridges the fields of behavioral economics, cognitive science, and social psychology. Combining behavioral experiments with computational methods to understand people’s attitudes, beliefs, and decisions, David’s work focuses on fake news. Specifically, why people believe and share this type of misinformation, and what we can do about it. David’s work has been published in recognizable peer-reviewed journals, he has written popular and accessible articles for outlets such as the New York Times, and he has also received attention from various TV and radio outlets. Beyond conducting and publishing research, David has applied his findings to technological companies, social media platforms, and philanthropic organizations. By doing so, he has tested strategies to combat and be proactive in the spread of misinformation.

About the Interviewer

A man in a blue suit and red tie smiles while standing indoors, surrounded by office plants.

Dr. Brooke Struck

Dr. Brooke Struck is the Research Director at The Decision Lab. He is an internationally recognized voice in applied behavioural science, representing TDL’s work in outlets such as Forbes, Vox, Huffington Post and Bloomberg, as well as Canadian venues such as the Globe & Mail, CBC and Global Media. Dr. Struck hosts TDL’s podcast “The Decision Corner” and speaks regularly to practicing professionals in industries from finance to health & wellbeing to tech & AI.

Listen to next

Notes illustration

Eager to learn about how behavioral science can help your organization?

Contact us