The word misinformation has become a pejorative in online communities, specifically within the wellness industry. American public health has become saturated with misinformation, disinformation, and now more than ever, propaganda. I largely began this podcast in effort to combat the rampant misinformation within the women’s health and wellness space, and before I dig into specific topics, I felt it was important to learn why we have found ourselves so susceptible to misinformation in the first place and how we can effectively engage with those who have developed strong belief systems based on misinformation to correct these schools of thought and ultimately, positive impact health outcomes.
This week, Matthew Facciani was generous to sit down with me to discuss the history of misinformation, why we are compelled to believe misinformation, how our identities shape our beliefs, and how those beliefs can be rooted in our inherent need for connection.
Matthew is a social scientist and author the new book, Misguided: Where Misinformation Starts, How It Spreads, and What to Do About It. Follow Matthew’s Substack & podcast for more on fighting misinformation and actionable tips for empowering people with the media literacy skills they need to navigate our ever-evolving information landscape.
A few things we discuss…
The intersection of identity and misinformation
Cognitive biases and our susceptibility to misinformation
The wellness industry’s manipulation of misinformation
COVID’s amplification of misinformation and the rising distrust in public health agencies
The Five R’s & having constructive conversations on difficult topics
