Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts

If the health content you see on social media sounds too good to be true, it’s very likely false – but there are ways to check it out before sharing.

Angshuman K. Kashyap, PhD candidate in Health Communication, University of Maryland • conversation
May 16, 2025 ~10 min

Digital imperialism: How US social media firms are using American law to challenge global tech regulation

Trump Media and Rumble joining X in legal fight against the Brazilian Supreme Court marks a new era of deregulation pushes.

Camille Grenier, Associated Expert at the Technology and Global Affairs Innovation Hub, Sciences Po • conversation
March 21, 2025 ~11 min


How close are we to an accurate AI fake news detector?

AI are using data from neuroscience to try to get better at spotting fake news.

Magda Osman, Professor of Policy Impact, University of Leeds • conversation
Nov. 6, 2024 ~9 min

The people we like can influence the connections our memory makes

This phenomenon can help us understand polarisation in society.

Mikael Johansson, Professor of Psychology, Lund University • conversation
July 9, 2024 ~7 min

Disinformation threatens global elections – here’s how to fight back

Scientists estimate that for every 100,000 people targeted with specific political ads, several thousand can be persuaded.

Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair of Cognitive Psychology, University of Bristol • conversation
Feb. 15, 2024 ~9 min

Disinformation is often blamed for swaying elections – the research says something else

Most studies suggests that fake news is more likely to enhance existing beliefs and views rather than radically change voting intentions of those who are undecided.

Magda Osman, Principal Research Associate in Basic and Applied Decision Making, Cambridge Judge Business School • conversation
Jan. 26, 2024 ~8 min

Rewarding accuracy instead of partisan pandering reduces political divisions over the truth

Researchers argue that the findings hold lessons for social media companies and the “perverse incentives” driving political polarisation online.

Cambridge University News • cambridge
March 6, 2023 ~6 min

Social media posts around solar geoengineering ‘spill over’ into conspiracy theories

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have analysed more than 800,000 tweets and found that negative emotions expressed about geoengineering – the idea

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Feb. 28, 2023 ~6 min


Misinformation: why it may not necessarily lead to bad behaviour

We often assume misinformation leads to bad beliefs which lead to antisocial behaviour. But there’s so far little evidence for this.

Zoe Adams, Research associate, Cambridge Judge Business School • conversation
Feb. 23, 2023 ~8 min

How maths can help the BBC with impartial reporting

The disinformation age is changing what it means to produce fair or balanced reporting.

Dorje C Brody, Professor of Mathematics, University of Surrey • conversation
Nov. 9, 2022 ~7 min

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