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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 7h

In his book "Nexus," Yuval Noah Harari notes that people connect through stories that are often fictional or embellished.

www.ynharari.com/book/nexus/

In his book "Nexus," Yuval Noah Harari notes that people connect through stories that are often fictional or embellished.

"Information sometimes represents reality, and sometimes doesn't. But it always connects. This is its fundamental characteristic. Therefore, when examining the role of information in history, although it sometimes makes sense to ask 'How well does it represent reality? Is it true or false?' often the more crucial questions are 'How well does it connect people? What new network does it create?'"

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 17h

The Economics of Attention

Loewenstein and Wojtowicz (2025)

Very interesting new paper.

www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...

The Economics of Attention

George Loewenstein
Zachary Wojtowicz

Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 63, no. 3, September 2025

Attention is an important resource in the modern economy and plays an increasingly prominent role in economic analysis. We summarize research on attention from both psychology and economics with a particular emphasis on its capacity to explain documented violations of classical economic theory. We also identify promising new directions for research, including attention-based utility, the recent proliferation of attentional externalities introduced by digital technology, the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the economics of attention, and the significant role that boredom, curiosity, and other motivational states play in determining how people allocate attention.

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 1d

It’s about the harms.

"When people falsely claim that we are doing censorship work, I think…what they are trying to do is stop us from trying to understand the harms they are trying to push...using bad information.

I think…we want research in trying to understand harms.”

youtu.be/kFoO3H_upAI

University of Cambridge Prof Jagolinzer on the need to understand the harms from disinformation

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

youtu.be

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 1d

It’s about the harms.

"When people falsely claim that we are doing censorship work, I think…what they are trying to do is stop us from trying to understand the harms they are trying to push...using bad information.

I think…we want research in trying to understand harms.”

youtu.be/kFoO3H_upAI

University of Cambridge Prof Jagolinzer on the need to understand the harms from disinformation

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

youtu.be

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 2d

A list of highly recommended readings to help understand today’s geopolitical and social-cultural environment.

@anneapplebaum.bsky.social
@ruthbenghiat.bsky.social
@moisesnaim.bsky.social
@marietjeschaake.bsky.social
@yuvalharari.bsky.social
@brianklaas.bsky.social

Recommended readings:

—Anne Appelbaum’s “Autocracy Inc.” to understand how organized crime syndicates have overtaken governments and are collaborating globally with aligned actors

—Moises Naim’s “Mafia States,” to understand that organized crime syndicates too frequently hijack nation states

—Marietje Schaake’s “The Tech Coup,” to understand how tech company leaders are supporting degradation of democratic and accountability institutions

Sarah Wynn-Williams’ “Careless People,” to understand the culture at the top of leading social media platforms

—Brian Klaas’ “Corruptible,” to understand why there is a disproportionate and natural selection of sociopaths in power around the world because others are often not willing to seek that level of power

—Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s “Strongmen,” to understand how authoritarians rise to power, rule with performative cruelty, and eventually fall

—Yuval Noah Harari’s “Nexus,” to understand how large human movements are often fueled by fictional or embellished stories

—Heinz Kohut (1972)’s “Thoughts on Narcissism and Narcissistic Rage,” to understand the insatiable need for narcissistic supply and narcissistic revenge that too often fuels public policy decisions

—Tilo Hartmann (2016)’s “Parasocial interaction, parasocial relationships, and well-being,” to understand the cognitive influence effects of pseudo-intimate relationships and how these can potentially be exploitative

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 2d

Hypocrisy and asymmetric enforcement of laws and norms are common tactics for organized criminals, including leaders of “mafia states,” which are countries that have been hijacked by organized crime groups.

Former Crazy Eddie CFO @samantar.bsky.social helps explain:

youtu.be/Azsoy-PC5HY

Securities Fraud Mastermind Sam Antar: "Your Rules Don't Apply To People Like Me"

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

youtu.be

10 16

Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 2d

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet

The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

christinapagel.substack.com

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 2d

Hypocrisy and asymmetric enforcement of laws and norms are common tactics for organized criminals, including leaders of “mafia states,” which are countries that have been hijacked by organized crime groups.

Former Crazy Eddie CFO @samantar.bsky.social helps explain:

youtu.be/Azsoy-PC5HY

Securities Fraud Mastermind Sam Antar: "Your Rules Don't Apply To People Like Me"

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

youtu.be

10 16

Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

Kohut (1972)

mindsplain.com/wp-content/u...

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 2d

A list of highly recommended readings to help understand today’s geopolitical and social-cultural environment.

@anneapplebaum.bsky.social
@ruthbenghiat.bsky.social
@moisesnaim.bsky.social
@marietjeschaake.bsky.social
@yuvalharari.bsky.social
@brianklaas.bsky.social

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 2d

I support academics who support academic independence.

David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 2d

MIT Rejects Proposed Federal Compact

MIT is the first institution to reject a proposal by the Trump administration that would trade preferential treatment on federal funding in exchange for far-reaching changes.

www.insidehighered.com

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

From @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s book Strongmen.

Tools of Rule

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

From @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s book Strongmen.

Tools of Rule

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

Item six from @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s book Strongmen.

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

Kohut (1972)

mindsplain.com/wp-content/u...

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

I think it’s important to also examine favorability in the groups that are most aggrieved and potentially radicalized, as they are a force multiplier if they still strongly support, despite overall decline trends.

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 3d

These are terrible numbers for Trump (via @pewresearch.org)

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

"Majorities say trump has used his office improperly; fewer say he has improved government, U.S. standing" (graphs via Pew Research)

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 3d

I think it’s important to also examine favorability in the groups that are most aggrieved and potentially radicalized, as they are a force multiplier if they still strongly support, despite overall decline trends.

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 3d

These are terrible numbers for Trump (via @pewresearch.org)

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 4d

I recently discussed how these relationships form. Some can offer support, but they can also be manipulative and draw users away from engaging in human interaction, altering cognition with downstream negative effects on social community.

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 5d

Populist opportunists leverage intentionally visceral narratives to draw and embolden followers, establish norms, draw boundaries, and define outgroups.

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 5d

For more on these tactics:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yEjt...

How some disinformation campaigns attempt to undermine democracy

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

m.youtube.com

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 5d

Populist opportunists leverage intentionally visceral narratives to draw and embolden followers, establish norms, draw boundaries, and define outgroups.

13 15 60

Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · Aug 17

We will be discussing how tech and narratives affect systemic risks at the next Cambridge Disinformation Summit.

Adam Maguire @adammaguire.bsky.social · Aug 17

Shein has been hit with two fines in recent weeks - with greenwashing a feature of both.

Fast fashion is one of the worst environmental offenders - but it’s not the only sector to try to fool consumers over its sustainability efforts.

www.rte.ie/news/busines...

Green Fables: How firms have misled on sustainability

Shein has been hit with two fines relating to its misleading sustainability claims, but there's a long history of firms trying to make themselves look more eco-friendly than they actually were, writes...

www.rte.ie

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Reposted by Alan Jagolinzer

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 25d

‪
@attorneynora.bsky.social led the 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit talk on how to legislate disinformation harms, with:

@alexandrageese.bsky.social, EU MP
Orlando Silva, Brazilian Congress
Damian Collins, former UK MP
Adam Price, Welsh MS

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvbh...

Cambridge Disinformation Summit 2025: Legislation of disinformation interventions panel

YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit

www.youtube.com

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 5d

"big lies...reinforce [demagogues'] supporters’ deeply held beliefs, test the loyalty of their close followers, or publicly demonstrate the demagogue’s power. For a big lie to serve these purposes, genuine belief in the lie is not required."

abdn.elsevierpure.com/en/publicati...

Why Demagogues Lie Big

abdn.elsevierpure.com

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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 5d

“Mafia State leaders are not reliable partners. You cannot rely on their internal enforcement systems because their enforcement systems have been neutered, compromised, or weaponized.

…prosecution of any corrupt actions must happen…outside of their jurisdiction.”

m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ZE...

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