The Australian National University (ANU) has contributed to a new handbook which describes the best way to combat misinformation and debunk fake news.
The University said 2020 had been a year when misinformation and fake news had had immediate consequences, notably on public health, general wellbeing, and democracy.
Researcher at ANU’s School of Psychology, Eryn Newman joined 21 other prominent scholars to write the Debunking Handbook 2020.
“We know false information and fake news is sticky,” Dr Newman said.
“We know it travels rapidly on social media,” she said.
“Debunking 2020 is a collaborative effort from experts in the field, where we take the existing science on misinformation and translate that into how we can combat it effectively.”
Dr Newman said the handbook unpacked the science of debunking for engaged citizens, policy makers, journalists, and other professionals.
She said the book described how people could combat misinformation and fake news through intensive debunking or inoculating themselves against misleading information before it was encountered.
“People can build their resilience to manipulation by understanding misleading strategies – a technique known as inoculation,” she said.
Dr Newman said an effective debunking clearly explained why the information was false and what was true instead.
The 19-page Debunking Handbook 2020 can be accessed at this PS News link.
