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Social Media and the Spread of Misinformation: Implications for COVID and the 2020 Election

  • 1.  Social Media and the Spread of Misinformation: Implications for COVID and the 2020 Election

    Posted 09-18-2020 13:04

    The Psychology of Technology Institute team invites you to join us this Monday, September 21 at 1pm EST for a live, interactive virtual conversation with Sinan Aral (MIT) about his research on networks, social media, and the spread of misinformation. We'll discuss implications for COVID and the 2020 election and will also open it up for live Q&A from the audience.

    To attend via zoom, RSVP here!

    Topics we'll explore:

    • What we know about election interference in 2016 and the new strategies Russia, China and Iran are employing in 2020.
    • The spread and impact of coronavirus misinformation worldwide and IDE's work with WHO on COVIDConnect, a fact-checking WhatsApp channel.
    • The nuts and bolts of how fake news works and how cascades of misinformation move through the world.
    • The steps we-as individuals, policymakers, or business owners-must take to thwart election influencers and prevent the spread of fake news.
    • What social media companies can do to stop fake news on their platforms and whether breaking up Facebook and others will help or make the problem worse.
    • What neuroscience tells us about why we are so susceptible to fake news and how we can break the cycle.

    Hope to see you there!

    Sincerely,
    Juliana Schroeder & Nate Fast, Psych of Tech Co-Directors

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    Nathanael Fast
    University of Southern California
    Marshall School of Business
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