Podcasts and Online Communication

Over recent years as music streaming sites like Spotify and iTunes have gotten more popular, the content found on them has become more expansive and diverse. An example of this is the increasing amount of podcasts that have been popping up, coving everything from motivation on your work commute to serial killers. 

While podcasts themselves are forms of online communication, there are some that cover other aspects. One of these podcasts is Navigating Online Misinformation and improving science communication with guest David R. Grimes by The Brain and Health Revolution Podcast.

This specific Podcast features multiple neuroscientists/authors discussing the impacts of misinformation online, in scientific communities, and on brain health. 

They begin by discussing the general importance of credibility in professional scientific spaces. They explain how spreading or authoring misinformation can cause damage to the general community, but it can also greatly affect the author, as scientific misinformation can be disproven relatively easily. Gross misinformation can be debunked by simple google searches or reviewing past findings, more complex misinformation can be disproven by alternative studies or additional papers being published. Either case will end in pretty public discrediting of whoever perpetuated the misinformation. "A fact is verifiable. We can determine whether it is true by researching the evidence. This may involve numbers, dates, testimony, etc. (Ex.: "World War II ended in 1945.")" (Writing@CSU). 

They then cover social media and the abundance of information that is being posted and pushed as 'fact', especially to those who do not have scientific background or knowledge of verifying facts, and aren't able to sift through all the content as effectively. The say that "TikTok and social media is the greatest discovery of our time. It's got 99.99999% garbage and 0.001% gold, coming from corners that people would never even guess" and that this 0.001% is critical (The Brain and Health Revolution Podcast). While misinformation is rampant on these sites, its that small portion of content that is factual and informational that really means the most.  

They then connect back to their first point about accountability and credibility when spreading misinformation, but this time, in terms of social media. Unlike scientific communities who have responsibilities when publishing, everyday people who post on TikTok do not necessarily have to be accountable for their content. This leads to the mass of misinformation on our feeds that some may not be able to distinguish from fact. 

The issue lies partially in our brain chemistry, our brains are basically wired to enjoy the garbage or more silly content that we see on social media. We are also more alined to pay attention to content that follows what we already know, not the stuff that makes us rethink ourselves. Studies have shown that misinformation tends to go further then factual scientific information due to how to catches our attention and stimulates our brains. 

Overall, this podcast gives great insight from qualified speakers on how our perception of misinformation in both professional and social online spaces is greatly linked to our brain chemistry. Additionally, they cover nuances within the spreading and authoring of misinformation as well. 

References:

“Distinguishing Fact, Opinion, Belief, and Prejudice.” Welcome to Writing@CSU, Colorado State University, writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300man/pop12d.cfm. Accessed 19 May 2024.

Sherzai, D,  Sherzai, A. 2023, Nov. Navigating online misinformation and improving science communication, with David R. Grimes. In The Brain Health Revolution Podcast. The Brain Docs. https://open.spotify.com/episode/67qBizGDtEFplkM3HW5zws?si=5ffaa9ab5d3044d7

Podcast Link:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/67qBizGDtEFplkM3HW5zws?si=5ffaa9ab5d3044d7

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