Cambridge scientists consider fake news 'vaccine'

BBC ^ | 23 January 2017

[BenLurkin]

A University of Cambridge study devised psychological tools to target fact distortion.

Researchers suggest "pre-emptively exposing" readers to a small "dose" of the misinformation can help organisations cancel out bogus claims.

...

"Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus," said the University of Cambridge study's lead author Dr Sander van der Linden.

"The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible."

The study, published in the journal Global Challenges, was conducted as a disguised experiment.

More than 2,000 US residents were presented with two claims about global warming.

The researchers say when presented consecutively, the influence well-established facts had on people were cancelled out by bogus claims made by campaigners.

But when information was combined with misinformation, in the form of a warning, the fake news had less resonance.

[BenLurkin]

As clever as it is pernicious. Pre-condition the public to embrace censorship.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Another reason Trump needs to de-fund the Left.

Way too many academics sitting in ivory towers with WAAAAAY too much time on their hands to think of stuff like this.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“help organisations cancel out bogus claims.”

I haven’t made any claims!

[fella]

"As clever as it is pernicious. Pre-condition the public to embrace censorship."

Isn't that what government run schools are all about?

[Teotwawki]

The study “was conducted as a disguised experiment,” so a fake study to combat fake news.

As a starting point, the study wanted to “find the most compelling climate change falsehood currently influencing public opinion.” “The winner: the assertion that there is no consensus among scientists.” “The study used the accurate statement that ‘97% of scientists agree on man made climate change.”

So, if you don't believe that there is a 97% consensus on man made goal warming, then you have been misled by fake news.

[BenLurkin]

Yup. Anything which contradicts the “accepted” message is to be disbelieved.

[samtheman]

- "This idea has my support."

[aquila48]

Sounds like a more “scientific” way to propagandize.

[Garth Tater]

As clever as it is pernicious. Pre-condition the public to embrace censorship.

Yep. They HAVE to do something to get the internet under control or their New World Order will never be. And that would suck -- for them.

The exchange of ideas and information by free people on the internet has cost the globalist NWO cabal their control of the "news." Their bought and paid-for MSN gatekeepers are laughed off the set these days and Trump's tweets will soon have more power than the entire alphabet news agencies combined.

Censorship. It's good for you and you WILL like it.