The Non-prophets

How do you counter misinformation? Critical thinking is step oneNPR, By Greg Rosalsky, on April 30, 2024https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2024/04/30/1247565565/how-do-you-counter-misinformation-critical-thinking-is-step-one In the segment, Jimmy Jr, Jason, and Kelley discuss the implications of misinformation on society, particularly in light of a study conducted by economist John List and his colleagues. The study aimed to determine if simple nudges could help consumers reject misinformation, using the context of the 2022 presidential election in Colombia, a polarized environment akin to the U.S. Participants were shown videos of opposing sides getting along, leading to a 30% decrease in belief in misinformation. Surprisingly, personality tests had little effect on belief in fake news.Jason finds the study's revelation about skepticism intriguing, noting how individuals became skeptical of even true headlines after the study. He reflects on the conditioning in societies like the Southern U.S., where accepta