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A comment on Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social media. Parent comment

Re:Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social ... by fhub on Wednesday November 13, 2024 @03:32PM (#42129672)
Cost of making up a rumor : 2c

Cost of proving a rumor is false : $$$

Cost of disseminating that proof to say 90% of people fooled: $$

Cost of persuading those 90% that your proof is more reliable than the rumor: $$$$$

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Re:Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social ... by spondylosaurus on Wednesday November 13, 2024 @04:11PM (#42130033)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandolini's_law
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Re:Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social ... by lesuorac on Wednesday November 13, 2024 @03:55PM (#42129903)
And of course if you make a rumor that everybody else's vaccines cause autism you can profit off it by making an autism-free vaccine.
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Re:Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social ... by tzs on Wednesday November 13, 2024 @08:37PM (#42132243)
Add:

Cost of updating the rumor just enough so the proof it was false no longer quite applies: 1c

Also, in addition to dollar costs there are time costs which similarly favor the rumor maker over the rumor debunker.

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