Misinformer Tactic: Stirring Up Emotions

Did you know that misinformation on the internet and social media often plays on your emotions to go viral? In particular, anger is frequently used to spread misinformation (1-3) .

Research shows that:

• Tweets that provoke anger rather than joy tend to be retweeted more (3).
• Being angry also makes it easier to believe misinformation (4).
• People who are angry are more inclined to consider false information as “scientifically credible” (5).

Strong negative emotions tend to make us more sensitive to information that confirms our views. This creates an echo chamber (in other words, seeing and believing only what aligns with our perspectives) (6). In fact, emotions such as anger, sadness or frustration scramble the message and diminish our ability to analyze scientific information. Our brains tend to simplify problems and solutions when we’re upset (7). Being aware of this misinformation tactic will help you avoid being fooled (8). Remember to take your time before sharing any information. Those who read information carefully have better judgment when faced with false information (9,10). Sources: https://tinyurl.com/SUFBigEmotions Share our original Tweet!

Did you know that misinformation on the internet and social media often plays on your emotions to go viral?

Emotions can hinder our critical thinking. Read more on that and how to protect yourself here https://t.co/gumtyFpleV#ScienceUpFirst pic.twitter.com/wJbyqN9cOv — ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced’Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) July 8, 2024

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