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3 - Do We Have a Misinformation Problem?

from Part I - Setting the Stage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2024

Jon Roozenbeek
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Sander van der Linden
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

Examples of misinformation having real-world consequences aren’t hard to find, and misinformation has been a hugely important topic of discussion in popular media, among politicians, and in scientific research. This chapter discusses whether misinformation poses a problem for society: for example, by damaging the democratic process or fostering potentially problematic health behaviors. We discuss competing perspectives in detail: scientists disagree over the extent to which misinformation can be harmful at a societal level, and what definition of “misinformation” is used matters a lot in determining the scope of the problem. The chapter concludes with a case study: information warfare in the present-day Russian–Ukrainian war.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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