Disinformation researchers under investigation: what’s happening and why (www.nature.com)

submitted 1 year ago by jocanib@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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US researchers have spent years studying how conspiracy theories spread. Now they are accused of helping to suppress conservative opinions.

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[-] DevCat@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago

This is apparently being led by Gym Jordan, the man who suppressed information about a close, personal pedophile.

Anything that risks putting the conspiracy theory-wielding political hucksters under the microscope or into the spotlight is being labeled as a conspiracy itself. It's always projection with this crowd.

[-] Tankaus@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

So, like... another conspiracy theory?

[-] chaogomu@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Technically, suppressing wild conspiracy theories is suppressing conservative speech these days. Which is rather sad. Not that conservative speech was based in reality before this, but now it's just completely unhinged, anti-science clap-trap.

[+] RespectMyAuthoriteh@lemmy.world -27 points 1 year ago

So is "science" on lemmy.world going to have politically charged social science "studies" like the Reddit version? Can't we do better here?

[-] 0Empty0@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago

https://www.viralityproject.org/

You're allowed to have your own opinion, but here is the link to the actual research, which I thought was pretty interesting!

One of the points was about how Covid-19 conspiracy theories were just rehashed talking points of old. I won't spoil the rest

[-] Kalkaline@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago

Without looking I'm going to guess it's rehashed antisemitism. Let's see if I'm right.

[-] jocanib@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

If you have any interest at all in science, you should have an interest in the accurate dissemination of science, and the ability of scientists to speak freely about their results without fear of political persecution.

[-] RespectMyAuthoriteh@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago

I do, but if I subscribe to the science community it's to see articles on new discoveries in physics, mathematics, astronomy, paleontology, etc., in my feed, not hot button political/cultural themed "studies".

[-] jocanib@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

If you want a science news community, you'll need to start one, ask someone else to start one, or twiddle your thumbs. Content is going where it belongs.