“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. ”

The trickle of information pollution, like air pollution, builds up over time. The more we are exposed to it, the more likely we are to pick up false beliefs that are hard to get rid of.

Information pollution is harmful

Fake news includes:<ul><li>Misrepresented information</li><li>News items are taken out of context</li><li>Failing to check facts or do background research</li><li>Using claims from unreliable sources at face value</li><li>Parodies</li></ul>There is so much skewed news, that we have a difficult time trying to figure out what to pay attention to and what to disregard. We also sometimes lack the expertise to assess accuracy.

Fake news

It's our tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure to it.The illusory truth effect is the reason why advertising and propaganda works.

The illusory truth effect

Information we consume is like the food we eat. If it's junk, our thinking will show that.<ul><li>Quit the news as a way of entertainment. If you want to inform yourself of something, learn from trustworthy sources.</li><li>Engage with timeless wisdom that will improve your life.</li><li>Stick to reliable, well-known information sources.</li><li>Research unfamiliar sources before trusting them.</li><li>Be aware of sites that are funded entirely by advertising.</li><li>Don't rely on news in social media posts without sources.</li><li>Pay attention when news items are emotionally charged, as it may be a sign of manipulation.</li></ul><ul>
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Overcome the illusory truth effect

It has four distinct features:<ul><li>It is high-volume and multi-channel</li><li>Rapid, continuous and repetitive</li><li>It makes no commitment to objective reality</li><li>It makes no commitment to consistency</li></ul>Firehouse propaganda can include internet users who are paid to repeatedly post in forums and comment sections on social media disputing legitimate information and spreading misinformation. It pushes us towards feelings like paranoia, mistrust, and suspicion.

The "firehose of propaganda" model

The typical explanation is that our brains take shortcuts to save energy:<ul><li>Statements presented in as easy-to-read color are judged as more likely to be true.</li><li>Aphorisms that rhyme (like “what sobriety conceals, alcohol reveals") seem more accurate than non-rhyming versions.</li></ul><ul>
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Why repetition reinforces a belief

People that spread propaganda rely on repetition to change the beliefs and values of other people.Propaganda can be used to improve public health or boost patriotism. But it can also be used to undermine political processes.

Propaganda

When a "fact" tastes good and is repeated enough, we tend to believe it, no matter how false it may be. Understanding the illusory truth effect can keep us from being bamboozled. *** A recent Verge article looked at some of the unsavory aspects of working as Facebook content moderators-the people who spend their days cleaning up the social network's most toxic content.

The "firehose of propaganda" model

The Illusory Truth Effect

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