Sander van der Linden
@profsanderlinden.bsky.social
Professor of Social Psychology in Society at the University of Cambridge and Author of FOOLPROOF: Why We Fall for Misinformation and How to Build Immunity (2023) + The Psychology of Misinformation (2024). Bad News Game.
www.sandervanderlinden.com
www.sandervanderlinden.com
Pinned
Who is susceptible to misinformation? We looked at >60,000 people from 24 countries who took our MIST test. Key results: Gen Z are more susceptible & those on the extreme right (but they don't know it).
Led by the brill @yarakyrychenko.bsky.social & Fritz Götz
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Led by the brill @yarakyrychenko.bsky.social & Fritz Götz
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Just casually reading in the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer that nearly a quarter (28-country average) seem to think that intentionally spreading disinformation (!) or committing violence (!!) is OK as a means to bring about societal change.
www.edelman.com/sites/g/file...
www.edelman.com/sites/g/file...
November 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Just casually reading in the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer that nearly a quarter (28-country average) seem to think that intentionally spreading disinformation (!) or committing violence (!!) is OK as a means to bring about societal change.
www.edelman.com/sites/g/file...
www.edelman.com/sites/g/file...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
Content Confusion
We often blame social media for the rampant problem of disinformation, but mainstream news media is also at fault. Not only do news outlets disguise paid con...
mitpress.mit.edu
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
🚨Out in PNAS🚨
Examining news on 7 platforms:
1)Right-leaning platforms=lower quality news
2)Echo-platforms: Right-leaning news gets more engagement on right-leaning platforms, vice-versa for left-leaning
3)Low-quality news gets more engagement EVERYWHERE - even BlueSky!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Examining news on 7 platforms:
1)Right-leaning platforms=lower quality news
2)Echo-platforms: Right-leaning news gets more engagement on right-leaning platforms, vice-versa for left-leaning
3)Low-quality news gets more engagement EVERYWHERE - even BlueSky!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🚨Out in PNAS🚨
Examining news on 7 platforms:
1)Right-leaning platforms=lower quality news
2)Echo-platforms: Right-leaning news gets more engagement on right-leaning platforms, vice-versa for left-leaning
3)Low-quality news gets more engagement EVERYWHERE - even BlueSky!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Examining news on 7 platforms:
1)Right-leaning platforms=lower quality news
2)Echo-platforms: Right-leaning news gets more engagement on right-leaning platforms, vice-versa for left-leaning
3)Low-quality news gets more engagement EVERYWHERE - even BlueSky!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Yes the BBC edit was poor journalistic form but the research indeed shows that Trump's speech predicted riots, violence, and weapons use on January 6th.
November 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Yes the BBC edit was poor journalistic form but the research indeed shows that Trump's speech predicted riots, violence, and weapons use on January 6th.
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Sad day for the folks who staked their reputations on lab leak conspiracy theories.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Sad day for the folks who staked their reputations on lab leak conspiracy theories.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
Here's my top 5 ways to help friends & family falling down the conspiracy hole:
1. Prebunk - prevention is key
2. Validate their worldview first
3. Reiterate social consensus to highlight extremism
4. Involve ex-conspiracy theorists
5. Keep in touch & prevent isolation
shorturl.at/dmldd
1. Prebunk - prevention is key
2. Validate their worldview first
3. Reiterate social consensus to highlight extremism
4. Involve ex-conspiracy theorists
5. Keep in touch & prevent isolation
shorturl.at/dmldd
How to help friends and family dig out of a conspiracy theory black hole
Some tried and trusted techniques that might help.
www.technologyreview.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Here's my top 5 ways to help friends & family falling down the conspiracy hole:
1. Prebunk - prevention is key
2. Validate their worldview first
3. Reiterate social consensus to highlight extremism
4. Involve ex-conspiracy theorists
5. Keep in touch & prevent isolation
shorturl.at/dmldd
1. Prebunk - prevention is key
2. Validate their worldview first
3. Reiterate social consensus to highlight extremism
4. Involve ex-conspiracy theorists
5. Keep in touch & prevent isolation
shorturl.at/dmldd
I hear a lot about misinformation as a "symptom" of "distrust". Here we test this & find that while trust is important, it doesn't buffer: misinfo isn't mitigated by high trust. Both misinfo & distrust *independently* predict vaccine denial. It's a disease of its own!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 30, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I hear a lot about misinformation as a "symptom" of "distrust". Here we test this & find that while trust is important, it doesn't buffer: misinfo isn't mitigated by high trust. Both misinfo & distrust *independently* predict vaccine denial. It's a disease of its own!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
We "Inoculate" the Brain Against #Misinformation www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/soci... by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social
"...helps people better discern reliable from unreliable news without causing cynicism about media."
Needed: "ability to spot & discuss attempts to manipulate public opinion"
"...helps people better discern reliable from unreliable news without causing cynicism about media."
Needed: "ability to spot & discuss attempts to manipulate public opinion"
Can We "Inoculate" the Brain Against Misinformation?
Can we trust anything in the age of AI? A new study finds that "psychological inoculation" helps people better discern fact from fiction without causing undue distrust of media.
www.psychologytoday.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
We "Inoculate" the Brain Against #Misinformation www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/soci... by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social
"...helps people better discern reliable from unreliable news without causing cynicism about media."
Needed: "ability to spot & discuss attempts to manipulate public opinion"
"...helps people better discern reliable from unreliable news without causing cynicism about media."
Needed: "ability to spot & discuss attempts to manipulate public opinion"
New Bayesian *Meta-Analysis* of Psychological Inoculation Against Misinformation! Open-access 👇Thread! Buckle up
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
✅We find that prebunking interventions improve people's ability to discern between reliable & unreliable news without causing undue skepticism!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
✅We find that prebunking interventions improve people's ability to discern between reliable & unreliable news without causing undue skepticism!
October 28, 2025 at 11:49 AM
New Bayesian *Meta-Analysis* of Psychological Inoculation Against Misinformation! Open-access 👇Thread! Buckle up
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
✅We find that prebunking interventions improve people's ability to discern between reliable & unreliable news without causing undue skepticism!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
✅We find that prebunking interventions improve people's ability to discern between reliable & unreliable news without causing undue skepticism!
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
"The more misinformation is repeated the more likely people are to believe it."
In the latest episode of The We Society podcast, Will Hutton is joined by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social to discuss how we can inoculate ourselves against misinformation.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
In the latest episode of The We Society podcast, Will Hutton is joined by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social to discuss how we can inoculate ourselves against misinformation.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
October 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
"The more misinformation is repeated the more likely people are to believe it."
In the latest episode of The We Society podcast, Will Hutton is joined by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social to discuss how we can inoculate ourselves against misinformation.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
In the latest episode of The We Society podcast, Will Hutton is joined by @profsanderlinden.bsky.social to discuss how we can inoculate ourselves against misinformation.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Three weeks remaining: Call for Papers for the Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 April 2026, at the University of Cambridge.
Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
Cambridge disinformation summit (2026) - Cambridge Judge Business School
Connect with Cambridge Judge! Explore our full calendar of upcoming events, learn about our programmes and connect with world-class speakers.
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Three weeks remaining: Call for Papers for the Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 April 2026, at the University of Cambridge.
Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
Submit your work to the 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit! We're going strong, back next year and look forward to receiving top submissions from across the world on systemic risks from technology that impact disinformation. 👇
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
@jagolinzer.bsky.social
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
@jagolinzer.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Submit your work to the 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit! We're going strong, back next year and look forward to receiving top submissions from across the world on systemic risks from technology that impact disinformation. 👇
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
@jagolinzer.bsky.social
www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
@jagolinzer.bsky.social
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
there's a lot of misinfo out there about what works to counter misinfo (womp womp). this is a great resource and a must-read for public health: awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
October 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
there's a lot of misinfo out there about what works to counter misinfo (womp womp). this is a great resource and a must-read for public health: awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Public health is under attack by a deluge of misinformation. We offer a consensus report from the American Psychological Association summarizing what we know & what interventions are effective in countering it. We provide 8 concrete recommendations. Open-access - awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
October 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Public health is under attack by a deluge of misinformation. We offer a consensus report from the American Psychological Association summarizing what we know & what interventions are effective in countering it. We provide 8 concrete recommendations. Open-access - awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Can we inoculate ourselves against misinformation?
In episode 4 of The We Society podcast, @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation and how we can gain resistance to false persuasion.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
In episode 4 of The We Society podcast, @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation and how we can gain resistance to false persuasion.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
October 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Can we inoculate ourselves against misinformation?
In episode 4 of The We Society podcast, @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation and how we can gain resistance to false persuasion.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
In episode 4 of The We Society podcast, @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation and how we can gain resistance to false persuasion.
🎙️ media.leverhulme.ac.uk/podcast/sand...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Can we inoculate ourselves against misinformation? In this episode of the We Society @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation & his research into how we can gain resistance to false persuasion. podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
October 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Can we inoculate ourselves against misinformation? In this episode of the We Society @profsanderlinden.bsky.social joins Will Hutton to discuss how people can become influenced by misinformation & his research into how we can gain resistance to false persuasion. podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
It was a pleasure to talk to Will Hutton about misinformation and inoculation on the We Society Podcast for the Academy of Social Sciences (@acadsocsciences.bsky.social)
Full episode here podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
Full episode here podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
October 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
It was a pleasure to talk to Will Hutton about misinformation and inoculation on the We Society Podcast for the Academy of Social Sciences (@acadsocsciences.bsky.social)
Full episode here podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
Full episode here podfollow.com/the-we-socie...
It's been 2 years since Foolproof, unfortunately misinformation is a bigger issue than ever, but excited to see all the international versions come out now. Here's the South Korean cover, one of the coolest I've seen!
Simplified Chinese and Turkish editions next!
Simplified Chinese and Turkish editions next!
October 21, 2025 at 1:04 PM
It's been 2 years since Foolproof, unfortunately misinformation is a bigger issue than ever, but excited to see all the international versions come out now. Here's the South Korean cover, one of the coolest I've seen!
Simplified Chinese and Turkish editions next!
Simplified Chinese and Turkish editions next!
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Published today: One of the biggest #science #communication studies to date. We asked 71,922 people in 68 countries how they #engage with information about #science and combined the data with several country-level factors: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #OpenAccess
October 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Published today: One of the biggest #science #communication studies to date. We asked 71,922 people in 68 countries how they #engage with information about #science and combined the data with several country-level factors: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #OpenAccess
Just arrived in Portugal for the Society for Experimental Social Psychology Conference (SESP). 27 degrees out here and a rooftop pool, that’s my kind of conference!
October 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Just arrived in Portugal for the Society for Experimental Social Psychology Conference (SESP). 27 degrees out here and a rooftop pool, that’s my kind of conference!
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
Join us on Thursday, 9 October, at 14:30 CET for the Analytical Sociology Seminar with Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social 🔹 Psychological Inoculation Against Misinformation🔹 More info: liu.se/en/event/ana...
Analytical Sociology Seminar: Sander van der Linden
Welcome to the Analytical Social Seminar with Sander van der Linden from University of Cambridge. Psychological inoculation against misinformation. The seminar is open for the public. Language: Englis...
liu.se
October 6, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Join us on Thursday, 9 October, at 14:30 CET for the Analytical Sociology Seminar with Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social 🔹 Psychological Inoculation Against Misinformation🔹 More info: liu.se/en/event/ana...
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
It appears that my employer, Dartmouth, one of the Trump 9, has said no to the compact. All the better given that our president is cited within it. But she’s saying no. Count the small victories when they come.
October 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
It appears that my employer, Dartmouth, one of the Trump 9, has said no to the compact. All the better given that our president is cited within it. But she’s saying no. Count the small victories when they come.
Reposted by Sander van der Linden
so the US government just forced a tech company to delete an app it doesn’t like, which is totally normal stuff
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’
Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...
www.404media.co
October 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
so the US government just forced a tech company to delete an app it doesn’t like, which is totally normal stuff
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...