A new series for @SURfdn - Disinformation Starts At Home - examines how disinfo is reshaping our local communities.
1st case study looks at how anti-5G & coronavirus conspiracies merged near my home in Idaho--just as the epidemic reached its local peak.
standuprepublic.com/disinformation…
1st case study looks at how anti-5G & coronavirus conspiracies merged near my home in Idaho--just as the epidemic reached its local peak.
standuprepublic.com/disinformation…
Disinformation is often examined as a sweeping, far-away problem. But the truth is, it's all around us.
It isn't a funny story about kooks and weirdos: our neighbors and friends, family members and classmates share disinformation and conspiracies, and many people believe them.
It isn't a funny story about kooks and weirdos: our neighbors and friends, family members and classmates share disinformation and conspiracies, and many people believe them.
Toxic information is shaping how citizens interact with local governments, businesses, & officials
Said another way: it is reshaping governance
This is a challenge in particular at the local level, where bandwidth is narrow & resources to push back are few
Said another way: it is reshaping governance
This is a challenge in particular at the local level, where bandwidth is narrow & resources to push back are few
In this first case study, follow me down the rabbithole as I discover a local citizens' group pushing anti-5G conspiracies in our little mountain Idaho town, and the network of supporting anti-vaxxer/health-truther groups, as they lobby city councils to block 5G cell towers
This activity peaks just as COVID-19 comes to the valley -- and rapidly morphs into promoting a super-conspiracy about 5G, Bill Gates, coronavirus, and vaccines.
Just as local governments try to address a rapidly growing epidemic.
Just as local governments try to address a rapidly growing epidemic.
We all have these stories.
They are slowly unraveling the social fabric of our democracy.
We, as citizens, need to do more to track and intervene where better information can cut off conspiracies.
Please read the case study:
standuprepublic.com/disinformation…
They are slowly unraveling the social fabric of our democracy.
We, as citizens, need to do more to track and intervene where better information can cut off conspiracies.
Please read the case study:
standuprepublic.com/disinformation…
