Science & Society

How to detect, resist and counter the flood of fake news

Although most people are concerned about misinformation, few know how to spot a deceitful post

an illustration of a wave overwhelming people

As a wave of misinformation threatens to drown us, researchers are coming up with ways for us to get our footing.

Brian Stauffer

By Alexandra Witze

From lies about election fraud to QAnon conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine falsehoods, misinformation is racing through our democracy. And it is dangerous.

Awash in bad information, people have swallowed hydroxychloroquine hoping the drug will protect them against COVID-19 — even with no evidence that it helps (SN Online: 8/2/20).