misinformation

False conspiracy theories have always been a part of U.S. history, but experts say they're spreading faster and wider than ever before.

'More Dangerous And More Widespread': Conspiracy Theories Spread Faster Than Ever

7:26am March 02, 2021

by Joel Rose

While false conspiracies aren't new, experts say their reach is spreading – accelerated by social media, encouraged by former President Trump, and weaponized in a way that is unprecedented.

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Twitter's new pilot program Birdwatch aims to enlist the social network's users to fact check each other's tweets.

Politics & Government

Twitter's 'Birdwatch' Aims to Crowdsource Fight Against Misinformation

12:56pm February 10, 2021

by Shannon Bond

Twitter is turning to its users to help find and flag misinformation with a new pilot program called Birdwatch, combining crowdsourcing and consensus.

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Open up any social media app on your phone and you'll see it: links to COVID-19 information from trustworthy sources. Here, a Twitter screen reads, "No, 5G isn't causing coronavirus."

WHO Is Fighting False COVID Info On Social Media. How's That Going?

4:30pm February 09, 2021

by Malaka Gharib

A year ago, the World Health Organization declared war on misinformation by partnering with Big Tech, from Facebook to Twitter to ... Uber. They're sending out public health messages. Who's tuning in?

Many Americans are feeling like they've lost loved ones to a web of conspiracy theories and false information circulating online.

Combating Misinformation When A Loved One Is Caught In A Web Of Conspiracies

12:51pm January 31, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

The recent attack on the U.S. Capitol is a reminder of the potentially deadly impact of disinformation that is spreading online. Experts say there are several possible strategies for dealing with it.

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A car with a flag endorsing the QAnon conspiracy theory drives by as supporters of President Trump gather for a rally outside the Governor's Residence in St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 14.

Even If It's 'Bonkers,' Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories

11:35am December 30, 2020

by Joel Rose

Misinformation about the election and the coronavirus is also gaining a foothold in American society, according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll.

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Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter ban certain posts from its platform.

Politics & Government

Don't Censor! Stop The Hoaxes! Facebook, Twitter Face A Catch-22

6:05pm October 16, 2020

by Adedayo Akala

While Republicans accuse Facebook and Twitter of censoring free speech, one expert says the platforms should do more because U.S. voters are "more vulnerable to online disinformation" than ever.

Anti-vaccine activists protested at the Massachusetts State House in August against Governor Charlie Baker's mandate that all students enrolled in child care, pre-school, K-12, and post-secondary institutions must receive the flu vaccine this year.

Health & Safety

Facebook Bans Ads Discouraging Vaccines, In Latest Misinformation Crackdown

7:24pm October 13, 2020

by Shannon Bond

The move is a reversal of Facebook's longstanding reluctance to block problematic content. Critics say public health misinformation has flourished on the social network.

Buildings are engulfed in flames as a wildfire ravages Talent, Ore., on Sept. 8, 2020. Unfounded rumors that left-wing activists were behind the fires went viral on social media, thanks to amplification by conspiracy theorists and the platforms' own desig

National

Can Circuit Breakers Stop Viral Rumors On Facebook, Twitter?

6:36pm September 22, 2020

by Shannon Bond

False claims that blame left-wing activists for wildfires in Oregon have spread on social media. To stop the rumors, some experts say platforms should take inspiration from the stock market.

Twitter says it will crack down on attempts to undermine faith in the November election or incite unrest.

Twitter's New Rules Aim To Prevent Confusion Around The 2020 Vote

1:54pm September 10, 2020

by Shannon Bond

Twitter will label or remove posts that spread misinformation. Social media companies are under pressure to curb the spread of false claims and prevent interference from foreign and domestic actors.

A copy of the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News sits in a newspaper box on a street corner in Denver, Colorado.

Science

Stop The Presses! Newspapers Affect Us, Often In Ways We Don't Realize

8:51pm April 30, 2020

On this week's radio show, we trace the history of fake news. Plus, in a time when accurate information is so important, we ask who ultimately bears the cost when no one wants to pay for local news.

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