Justin P. McBrayer

This book introduces readers to the topic of misinformation. In recent years, many people have become worried about fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and the like. Is this concern justified or a moral panic over nothing? Misinformation: The Basics provides readers with a short, accessible introduction to the topic and includes chapters answering the following questions: What is misinformation? Why is there so much more misinformation nowadays? Why are we in a misinformation crisis—is it the result of sabotage or market forces? How is misinformation harmful? What can we do to solve the misinformation problem? With a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading, and lesson plans for teachers and reading groups, Misinformation: The Basics is an ideal starting point for audiences interested in the study of news and information. Key Features Covers a wide range of misinformation, from fake news and disinformation to deepfakes and memes Offers an interdisciplinary evaluation of misinformation, drawing on work in philosophy, economics, psychology, and media studies Clearly sets out the role that technology like social media, smartphones, and the internet played in the rise of a digital, interconnected media landscape.

This book introduces readers to the topic of misinformation. In recent years, many people have become worried about fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and the like. Is this concern justified or a moral panic over nothing? Misinformation: The Basics provides readers with a short, accessible introduction to the topic and includes chapters answering the following questions: What is misinformation? Why is there so much more misinformation nowadays? Why are we in a misinformation crisis—is it the result of sabotage or market forces? How is misinformation harmful? What can we do to solve the misinformation problem? With a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading, and lesson plans for teachers and reading groups, Misinformation: The Basics is an ideal starting point for audiences interested in the study of news and information. Key Features Covers a wide range of misinformation, from fake news and disinformation to deepfakes and memes Offers an interdisciplinary evaluation of misinformation, drawing on work in philosophy, economics, psychology, and media studies Clearly sets out the role that technology like social media, smartphones, and the internet played in the rise of a digital, interconnected media landscape.

The world is swimming in misinformation. Conflicting messages bombard us every day with news on everything from politics and world events to investments and alternative health. The daily paper, nightly news, websites, and social media each compete for our attention and each often insist on a different version of the facts. Inevitably, we have questions:Who is telling the truth?How would we know?How did we get here?What can we do? Beyond Fake News answers these and other queries. It offers a technological and market-based explanation for how our informational environment became so polluted. It shows how purveyors of news often have incentives to mislead us, and how consumers of information often have incentives to be misled. And it chronicles how, as technology improves and the regulatory burdens drop, our information-scape becomes ever more littered with misinformation. Beyond Fake News argues that even when we really want the truth, our minds are built in such a way so as to be incapable of grasping many facts, and blind spots mar our view of the world. But we can do better, both as individuals and as a society. As individuals, we can improve the accuracy of our understanding of the world by knowing who to trust and recognizing our limitations. And as a society, we can take important steps to reduce the quantity and effects of misinformation.

The world is swimming in misinformation. Conflicting messages bombard us every day with news on everything from politics and world events to investments and alternative health. The daily paper, nightly news, websites, and social media each compete for our attention and each often insist on a different version of the facts. Inevitably, we have questions:Who is telling the truth?How would we know?How did we get here?What can we do? Beyond Fake News answers these and other queries. It offers a technological and market-based explanation for how our informational environment became so polluted. It shows how purveyors of news often have incentives to mislead us, and how consumers of information often have incentives to be misled. And it chronicles how, as technology improves and the regulatory burdens drop, our information-scape becomes ever more littered with misinformation. Beyond Fake News argues that even when we really want the truth, our minds are built in such a way so as to be incapable of grasping many facts, and blind spots mar our view of the world. But we can do better, both as individuals and as a society. As individuals, we can improve the accuracy of our understanding of the world by knowing who to trust and recognizing our limitations. And as a society, we can take important steps to reduce the quantity and effects of misinformation.