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Cake day: January 28th, 2022

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  • I actually also think it’s probably both, to a degree, that’s just not what the author of the article is arguing. I think there’s probably a certain amount of persuasion that is pulling people deeper into a belief system that they might only be partially invested in at first, and then they are sucked into ecosystems that reinforce those beliefs and pull them further in. I don’t have anything but vibes and lots of half-remembered reading about online radicalization, though.


  • You’re right, but I think they are using the term “brainwashing” in a colloquial sense. There’s a perception that misinformation on the internet is persuading people into more extreme views, but what the author of this article is arguing is that what is happening more is that online misinformation is allowing people to easily justify beliefs that they have already formed, and quickly and easily get rid of cognitive dissonance associated with encountering information that contradicts their beliefs. This is something that people have always done, but it’s become so easy on the modern internet that more and more people are embracing fringe worldviews who might previously have been unable to cognitively support those views.

    It’s a small difference in the way we think about misinformation online, but I think it’s important that we understand what is likely happening. It’s not so much that misinformation is changing people’s beliefs, but that it’s allowing people to hang onto beliefs that contradict reality more easily.

















  • TheRtRevKaiser@beehaw.org
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    MtoPolitics@beehaw.orgFree time is not linear
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    6 months ago

    Hi @rosethornRangerTTV. I can see you’ve just recently joined our instance, so let me first say: Welcome!

    While you’re here, please keep in mind the ethos of Beehaw when interacting with other folks in the comments - Be(e) Nice. We’re working hard to make Beehaw a pleasant little corner of the internet that is welcoming and inclusive.

    I personally don’t have any issues with something like this being posted in !politics, but @coyotino’s question is valid. I think in the future it wouldn’t hurt to include a question (or questions) related to your ideas to help get discussion started, or link to an article expanding on the idea that you’re interested in discussing. Regardless, I’m glad you’re here, and I hope you enjoy the community that we’re working to build.