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Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight It

Adam Berinsky

Culture, humanities & social science

Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight It

By Adam Berinsky, professor of political science

Princeton University Press · 2023

Political rumors pollute the political landscape. But if misinformation crowds out the truth, how can democracy survive? Berinsky examines why political rumors exist and persist despite their unsubstantiated and refuted claims, who is most likely to believe them, and how to combat them. He shows that a tendency toward conspiratorial thinking and vehement partisan attachment fuel belief in rumors. Moreover, in fighting misinformation, it is as important to target the undecided and the uncertain as it is the true believers.

From Summer 2024 recommended reading from MIT (MIT News). Cover image via Google Books.