The Infodemic: Understanding Misinformation and Its Impact

Illustration: Alashi/Getty Images

How much of what we read on social media is false or if not plain false, designed to make us think or feel a certain way? The truth is that, at a basic cognitive level, we all are susceptible to misinformation. As "digital natives" who have grown up with platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, we might assume we are more resilient to these manipulations. While it’s true that younger generations often possess higher digital literacy than older individuals, we remain just as vulnerable to being misled.

One key reason for this vulnerability is how our brains are wired. Human cognition is predisposed to seek patterns and favor information that aligns with our pre-existing beliefs and emotions. Unfortunately, this predisposition usually backfires, making us vulnerable to manipulation. But today's problem is much bigger than just consuming fake news because we are increasingly dealing with viral half-truths, deeply partisan agendas, and constant media manipulation.

The Virus Analogy

Misinformation behaves strikingly like a biological virus. It latches onto a host, in this case our brains and injects itself into our cognitive functioning. Once embedded, it becomes exceedingly difficult to remove. Research reveals that misinformation, once accepted as truth, can significantly alter perceptions and behaviors. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled this phenomenon an ‘infodemic’—a crisis in its own right.

Alarmingly, even when debunked, its lingering effects persist. Like biological viruses that spread through physical contact or droplets, misinformation spreads rapidly via social media shares, tweets, and viral posts. The scary part is, no physical contact is necessary for it to infect new hosts.

For instance, in April of 2018, false videos with warnings of local child-traffickers in southern India circulated on WhatsApp, claiming that more than fifty children had been abducted in the area. These messages incited a mob of around 200 people to attack an innocent family, dragging them from their car, beating one to death and leaving others critically injured. The now infamous ‘Indian WhatsApp Lynchings’ often follow the circulation of fake news videos and messages on the platform.

Fast forward to 2020, in Iran, hundreds died and thousands were hospitalized, including children after ingesting toxic alcohol-based products because of a social media claim that alcohol "neutralizes" the coronavirus.

Similarly, in February of 2022, Russian propagandists flooded media platforms with fabricated videos portraying Ukrainian aggression. These videos, some repurposed from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and others from the video game Arma 3, was aimed to spread confusion and justify Russia’s invasion. The goal wasn’t necessarily to convince the world of the invasion’s legitimacy but to blur the line between fact and fabrication, leaving political analysts and fact-checkers distracted by the need to debunk these blatant falsehoods.

The illusionary truth

One of the most troubling aspects of misinformation is the “illusory truth effect”, a phenomenon that claims, the more often we hear a statement, the more ‘true’ it sounds. It’s worth thinking about the implications of this. Does repeating a lie really make it seem more true? History suggests it does. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s infamous minister of propaganda, is often associated with writings on the ‘Big Lie rule: ‘If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.’

It is with no surprise that this principle has been exploited in modern times as well. Former US president Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen from him, it has become his favorite ‘Big Lie’. But surely, repeating a completely outlandish claim doesn’t make people more likely to believe it?

A 2022 YouGov poll highlights the power of repeating the Big Lie: despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, about 75 per cent of Trump voters continue to believe that the 2020 election was rigged. Psychological research also affirms the effectiveness of the Big Lie rule. In other words, simply knowing that something isn’t true is no guarantee that we won’t be duped by a false headline when it’s repeated over and over again.

What about the role of education? It is true that many studies have found that as education increases, the propensity to believe in fake news and conspiracy theories decreases. However, this doesn’t mean that education necessarily protects us from illusory truth, because the underlying psychological mechanism that’s at play is so basic it affects nearly everyone.

Considering it is almost impossible for us to stop the flow of fake news, we can definitely insulate ourselves from ingesting them. The most important thing we can do is, before sharing anything sensational, we take a moment to fact-check. This small step helps avoid contributing to the noise and ensures that we're part of the solution, not the problem.

It is also important to know that, sometimes, our instincts make us share content simply because it aligns with our beliefs or provokes a strong emotional response. Misinformation thrives on this impulse, as scammers craft stories that bypass critical scrutiny by resonating with their target audience’s preconceptions. Hence, we should always fact-check before sharing, even if the source seems trustworthy, since even reliable outlets can make occasional mistakes.

Additionally, we should also consider the underlying agenda of the content at hand. News organizations, political campaigns, and advocacy groups often have specific motives, which can shape how stories are framed and presented. Emotional appeals can be particularly compelling, but they should be met with caution, as propagandists frequently exploit emotions to manipulate the audience. 

Hence in this regard, whenever we encounter any sort of information, we should engage our critical thinking skills and actively question its validity to prevent the spread of false or misleading content. The responsibility lies with each of us to approach the digital age with caution and discernment, ensuring we protect not only ourselves but also the integrity of the information ecosystem.

(Aishwarya Koirala is a third-year Bachelor’s student at St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar, Kathmandu, majoring in English Literature and Psychology, with Journalism as her elective subject.)