Re:The Psychology of Online Political Hostility
by TheOtherHobbes on Saturday August 28, 2021 @02:05PM
(#28340105)
Indeed.
I really don't think it's helpful to say "Fact checkers said X" without providing proof and context.
Unsurprisingly it turns out that social media - platforms designed to promote aggressive argument for "engagement" - are a very bad way to distribute public health information. Or reputable factual information about anything at all.
Reality-based audiences will try to select credible sources. But everyone else gets a diet of anger, fear, hearsay, misunderstandings, shock-value anecdotes, lies, and noise.
I think it's unwise to ignore how much of an influence this has had on what's happening now.
I really don't think it's helpful to say "Fact checkers said X" without providing proof and context.
Unsurprisingly it turns out that social media - platforms designed to promote aggressive argument for "engagement" - are a very bad way to distribute public health information. Or reputable factual information about anything at all.
Reality-based audiences will try to select credible sources. But everyone else gets a diet of anger, fear, hearsay, misunderstandings, shock-value anecdotes, lies, and noise.
I think it's unwise to ignore how much of an influence this has had on what's happening now.