As someone who studies misinformation, the past week has been a masterclass in how positive actors with a strong information operation and tech platforms being (somewhat) sensible can create an environment in which misinformation struggles to take hold. A 🧵.
First, we have to acknowledge the role of fortune. I'm wary of lionizing leaders, but Zelenskyy certainly is a man made for the moment. His personal bravery and outstanding communication skills have made it possible for the other stuff I'm going to talk about to work.1/8
ONE NEAT TRICK for making an information space hostile to misinformation: Flood the zone! The US government deserves credit for doing this early. Not leaving an information vacuum for your opponent to fill makes their job much, much, harder. 2/8 thehill.com/policy/interna…
CLICK HERE to see the #ghostofkyiv, that badass lady with the sunflower seeds, the heroes of Snake Island. These are, at minimum, factually questionable. But they are conveying a sense of the Ukrainian people that is sticking. Even after they're debunked, the feeling remains. 3/8
BTW, if you've ever wondered why misinformation can be so effective and why debunking often doesn't change beliefs, *this* is why. If you want to believe the story the misinfo supports, even after the specific claim is debunked, the overall impression sticks. Job Done. 4/8
TECH PLATFORMS: They're not totally beefing it! They deserve credit for blocking RT and Sputnik in Europe. But not blocking long-time spreaders of misinformation globally when the government that controls them is actively trying to lie about their war atrocities is... NUTS. 5/8
CATS vs. DOGS. The importance of animal images in internet culture and information warfare has been discussed, at length, by everyone. Here it is again, in all its fuzzy glory. Mwah, chef's kiss. 6/8 
So what can we learn from all this?
1) Flood the zone with accurate info. Info vacuums will be filled if left for any real length of time.
2) Humanize your side. Cats can be helpful.
3)Take out the worst actors spreading out misinfo.
7/8
1) Flood the zone with accurate info. Info vacuums will be filled if left for any real length of time.
2) Humanize your side. Cats can be helpful.
3)Take out the worst actors spreading out misinfo.
7/8
Of course, none of this matters without ground truth being on your side. Zelenskyy is truly a remarkable leader. The Ukrainian resistance has shocked and inspired the world. The information war doesn't matter if the kinetic war is lost. And they haven't lost yet.8/8
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