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A discussion hosted by the National Center for Public Health addressed the question of why people believe in the theories of disinformation and the conspiracy that Covid-19 does not exist.
We live in a little bubble
As one of the main reasons people believe in such theories, the discussion participants named the social circle formed around the person.
“The conspiracy theories have gotten much stronger now because people live in closed bubbles. Largely in social technology. That is if, for example, I have friends like that and I have doubts, and someone tells me that this virus does not really exist, and I ask my other friend, and “there really isn’t”, and another, but I don’t think I’m doing friends. just with that small group.
I’m in that layer and there are those, and I become vulnerable in that layer. If I don’t look closer, and if, let’s say, television is not important to me, where can I find a little different information, I won’t read scientific literature and all that, I will be limited and there will be no opportunity to see those things, “he said. Daumantas Matulis, professor at Vilnius University.
Conspiracy theories are also spread by people’s mistrust of each other or of the state.
“Soil and oxygen for conspiracy theories are mistrust among themselves, mistrust in institutions, mistrust in the State. Where the culture of trust is low, we see a higher level of public suspicion.
This is probably the basis here: strengthening general trust in the state, its institutions and institutes. People must be full of real, objective information, real research, statistics, sources; I only see one way. There is no other way. All that means of doubt and the curse of knowledge can be filled with facts, sources, verified opinions, authorities, ”said the moderator of the discussion, journalist Aurimas Perednis.
Such material tries to fill in the logical gaps.
“Disinformation and misinformation are often applied to our logical loopholes, to the induction of feelings. And if they succeed, they must think very carefully about the entire narrative that a person says: is it true or not? ”Said Mažvydas Kunevičius, Chief Specialist of the Communication Department of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The public needs to be educated
To combat misinformation and conspiracy theories, discussion participants provide education and discussion.
“It just came to our notice then. Explain what is happening online, what an information war looks like, what a hoax looks like, what conspiracy theories look like, why do they exist. Teach math, teach those subjects, teach science. natural, ”said Laura Kalinienė, a researcher at the VU Life Sciences Center.
“The main antidote to misinformation is the education of the people,” said M. Kunevičius.
However, to enlighten the public, you also need to be able to present the information you want appropriately and discuss it.
“If a straight head begins to say or deny a person’s belief, saying no, you are wrong, then this should be avoided. This is one of the things to provoke the fact, that is, constantly asking questions and allowing him to answer himself. Critical questions must be well selected and posed, ”said M. Kunevičius.
Experts also suggest filling the information field with truths and facts.
“One of the main ways to combat misinformation, if we have a very large flow of misinformation, it will always win for whoever shouts the loudest. It means that we need to fill the entire information flow with positive information and all arguments and facts at the same rate, ”said M. Kunevičius.
It is better not to argue on social media
Experts believe that discussions that come up in comments cannot even be called discussions and it is best not to join them.
“It is never advisable to start discussions on social networks. If we are talking about all disinformation and disinformation processes, we should not engage in discussion. We don’t know at all who we are talking about. It could be a completely different person, a computer program.
Usually one of the main goals of these evil individuals spreading misinformation is to provoke your feelings and provoke that discussion. The best antidote can often be simply to ignore it, “said the Chief Specialist of the Communications Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Discussion participants are advised to remember that it takes time to gather information.
“It is important to remember that knowledge is very difficult to access, and it only takes a second to say fantasy and you won’t prove anything, because there are no real facts and knowledge yet, they will just come and require a lot of work. We just have to have strength, maybe this whole situation is only hardening us “, said D. Matulis
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