Thread by @javeedsukhera

Excited to join #CERIconversation today with @CaulfieldTim about the dangers of misinformation and how health professions educators can play an important role into the future. @ChrisWatling3 starts off with our introduction...

Along with the pandemic came an #infodemic - there is REAL harm associated with misinformation. It is actually "killing people" and we must do something to act. We need to "push back against the noise" - @CaulfieldTim

The infodemic is largely related to social media. Those who believe in conspiracies are much more likely to be getting their information from social media.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…

And a recent study shows, that much of this misinformation comes from...*gasp*... American sources. mcgill.ca/newsroom/chann…

secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/fb…

We also know that much of the misinformation that is spread about public health is planned, deliberate, and organized. This is why we must also be planned, deliberate, and diligent about how we counter misinformation.

If you believe conspiracy theories, you are also less likely to revise beliefs in the face of dis-confirmatory evidence.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

So what do we do?

Well we definitely need more action from regulators

But we should also be aware of our biases and the distortions they create. We should curate our news consumption rather than allowing it to control us.

theconversation.com/when-too-much-…

And we need to debunk, debunk, and debunk...because Debunking works.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32762260/

What does a good debunk look like? According to @CaulfieldTim ...
1) Provide the science 2) use clear and shareable content 3) reference trustworthy sources 4)note scientific consensus 5) Be nice/authentic/humble 6) Consider a narrative

7) highlight gaps in logic and rhetorical tricks 8) Make facts the hook (not the misinformation) 9) Remember the general public is the audience (not the hardcore denier)

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

https://twitter.com/ChrisWatling3/status/1445430613318717455?s=20

To conclude, @CaulfieldTim highlights @scienceupfirst - an initiative that is aimed at fighting misinformation in social media. scienceupfirst.com

Question from audience: What can organizations do? @CaulfieldTim advises that organizations need to support those putting themselves out there to counter misinformation. Advocacy leads to backlash and we need to support those speaking up and breaking the silence.