"Study finds COVID vaccine mandates significantly reduce infection rates on college campuses" https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-covid-vaccine-mandates-significantly-infection.html
From study: "These data are consistent with COVID vaccines having achieved hoped-for effects in our community..."
#VaccinesWork #publichealth #Vaccines #science #education #scicomm
Study finds COVID vaccine mandates significantly reduce infection rates on college campuses
New research from The Ohio State University College of Medicine finds COVID-19 vaccine mandates are highly effective at reducing the spread of the virus and increasing immunity in a university setting.
How folk remedies can fuel #misinformation https://theconversation.com/how-folk-remedies-can-fuel-misinformation-210993?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton
"...the idea that folk wisdom is predominantly benign might be why experts tend to pay less attention to it."
"...but they can hurt people."
Agree. Let's avoid legitimizing pseudoscience.
How folk remedies can fuel misinformation
Medical folk wisdom is the complex problem health professionals can’t afford to ignore.
Our information ecosystem has become a massive false-balance machine.
Needed: more accurate representations of the scientific consensus.
My new piece: Is bothsidesism killing us? (And why scientific consensus matters) https://healthydebate.ca/2023/08/topic/bothsidesism-scientific-consensus-matters/ via
@healthydebate
#Scicomm #science #misinformation #criticalthinking #publichealth #climatechange #gmo #VaccinesWork
Is bothsidesism killing us? (And why scientific consensus matters) - Healthy Debate
Our information ecosystem has become a massive false-balance machine. We need to correct bothsideism and misinformation.
The “need for chaos” is linked to the sharing of conspiracy theories, study finds https://www.psypost.org/2023/08/the-need-for-chaos-is-linked-to-the-sharing-of-conspiracy-theories-study-finds-168465
"Individuals with a higher need for chaos were more likely to express willingness to share all six conspiracy theories..."
#misinformation #science #scicomm #conspiracytheory
The “need for chaos” is linked to the sharing of conspiracy theories, study finds
New research suggests that a psychological concept known as "the need for chaos" plays a bigger role than partisanship and ideology in the sharing of conspiracy theories on the internet. The study, published in Research & Politics, indicates that individuals driven by a desire to disrupt and challenge established systems are more inclined to share conspiracy theories. ...
Accurately communicating scientific consensus key in fight against misinformation.
Covering scientific consensus: https://journalistsresource.org/media/scientific-consensus-news-tips/
"A weight-of-experts approach is better at helping people determine the validity of scientific claims..."
Covering scientific consensus: What to avoid and how to get it right
Researchers explain how journalists can use scientific consensus to bolster their coverage and battle misinformation about policy topics.
Deepfakes & scientific knowledge dissemination https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-39944-3
"...27–50% of individuals cannot distinguish authentic videos from deepfakes."
"Science misinformation on topics ranging from climate change to vaccines have significant public policy repercussions."
Deepfakes and scientific knowledge dissemination - Scientific Reports
Science misinformation on topics ranging from climate change to vaccines have significant public policy repercussions. Artificial intelligence-based methods of altering videos and photos (deepfakes) lower the barriers to the mass creation and dissemination of realistic, manipulated digital content. The risk of exposure to deepfakes among education stakeholders has increased as learners and educators rely on videos to obtain and share information. We field the first study to understand the vulnerabilities of education stakeholders to science deepfakes and the characteristics that moderate vulnerability. We ground our study in climate change and survey individuals from five populations spanning students, educators, and the adult public. Our sample is nationally representative of three populations. We found that 27–50% of individuals cannot distinguish authentic videos from deepfakes. All populations exhibit vulnerability to deepfakes which increases with age and trust in information sources but has a mixed relationship with political orientation. Adults and educators exhibit greater vulnerability compared to students, indicating that those providing education are especially susceptible. Vulnerability increases with exposure to potential deepfakes, suggesting that deepfakes become more pernicious without interventions. Our results suggest that focusing on the social context in which deepfakes reside is one promising strategy for combatting deepfakes.
Physicians play a critical role in the battle against bunk. Studies consistently show they remain one of the most trusted voices.
Truly an honour to speak at the #CMAHealthSummit about countering the spread of #misinformation. Energizing to hang with this wonderful community! 🙏
#Misinformation #SciComm #medicine #physicians #science #evidence
Trolls: Low self-esteem & feelings of inferiority.
"...people with low self-esteem might use trolling as a way to cope..."
"...online aggression might help individuals with high FOMO avoid... feelings of inferiority."
https://www.psypost.org/2023/08/low-self-esteem-and-high-fomo-are-psychological-mechanisms-that-play-an-important-role-in-trolling-study-suggests-167847
#scicomm #misinformation
Low self-esteem and high FOMO are psychological mechanisms that play an important role in trolling, study suggests
New psychology research sheds light on why people engage in online trolling behavior, which involves purposely causing conflict and stress on the internet. The findings, published in Psychological Reports, provide evidence that trolling behavior is more common among those with low self-esteem and a high fear of missing out (FOMO). ...
Thousands of scientists are cutting back on Twitter, seeding angst & uncertainty https://nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02554-0
Me: If experts leave, "are we just making room for a massive echo chamber that can spread misinformation in a way that is very harmful to society?"
#scicomm #twitter #misinformation
"...it is an open secret in medicine that CPR is both brutal and rarely effective."
The Hidden Harms of CPR https://newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/the-hidden-harms-of-cpr
Studies show pop culture representations of CPR create false expectations.
