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on On October 30, 1938, an American radio station aired a drama adaptation of HG Wells’ apocalyptic novel “War of the Worlds.” Some listeners were unable to differentiate between reality and fiction. Reports surfaced of panicked audiences mistaking it for breaking news. Academic research later estimated that over a million people thought they were witnessing an actual Mars invasion.
This incident highlights how misinformation can easily take root. Despite claims of mass panic, the reality is questioned. A national radio audience survey revealed that only 2% reported tuning into the broadcast, recognizing it as a work of fiction. Many attributed the panic to “The Play” or narrator Orson Wells rather than actual news reports. The confusion stemmed from listeners misinterpreting the drama as a real-life invasion.
Nearly a century later, misinformation remains a prominent issue. Headlines often report millions being exposed to false information online. A 2018 Gallup survey found that two-thirds of Americans encounter misinformation on social media. However, similar to the War of the Worlds broadcast, misinformation may not be as widespread as believed. Visits to reliable news sources increased significantly compared to unreliable ones during events like the Covid spread in spring 2020.
Complete misinformation may be more uncommon than assumed. Navigating between facts and fiction requires avoiding two errors. Believing in falsehoods or distrusting all information can both lead to challenges. Instead, finding ways to manage the risks associated with trusting information is crucial to discerning truth in the midst of a vast sea of data.
Rather than blindly accepting or rejecting information, we should develop tools to identify flawed assumptions and misinterpretations. Misinformation is not just about inaccurate facts but also about misinterpretations drawn from technically accurate information. We must equip individuals to discern distorted narratives, cherry-picked data, and hidden assumptions when navigating through the digital landscape.
Addressing false beliefs online requires more than labeling content as “misinformation.” It involves empowering individuals to critically assess and interpret information accurately. Striking a balance between trusting too much and distrusting everything is essential for combating false beliefs effectively in the digital age.
Adam Kucharski is a professor at the London School of Heig.Iene and Tropical Medicine, and authors Proof: The Uncertain Science of Certification (profile).
Read more
distrust: What makes reasonable people believe in irrational things by Dan Alleye (Heligo, £10.99)
An era of overthinking magic Amanda Montell (Atria, £10.99)
The art of uncertainty David Spiegelhalter: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk, and Luck (Pelican, £12.99)
Source: www.theguardian.com
