Tag: School of Law

Misinformation does not just relate to bad facts – it is how people construe information through their various social and political lenses. Researchers at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public are exploring how false election rumors emerge not from outright deception, but from how individuals comprehend ambiguous events.

The study reveals how political narratives, online influencers and collective sensemaking psychology shape misinformation. The authors warn of the growing online ecosystem that is specifically designed to amplify election-related misinformation, which may fuel real-world consequences, noting that misinformation goes far beyond fact-checking and requires a recognition of how perceptions can be distorted.

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MisinfoDay @ MyCommunity, a program developed and launched by the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public (CIP), is being adopted around the nation.

A group of librarians at Des Moines University, a private medical university, were the latest to adapt the MisinfoDay activities for a community event. The university adapted the activities to help medical students better address misinformation between both patients and clients. Event attendees completed hands-on activities, including the Euphorigen Investigation, an educational escape room style game developed at the CIP in collaboration with Puzzle Break. Event organizers saw the games facilitating profound discussions of misinformation’s impact, particularly in clinical spaces.

In May 2024, nearly 100 high schoolers took part in California’s first MisinfoDay trainings, showcasing the proliferation of this important project. With media literacy increasingly critical, MisinfoDay @ MyCommunity is an important program that educators can use for a diverse range of audiences.

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