Event Date
Dr. Toni G. L. A. van der Meer
The Threat of Misinformation as Seen Through the Audience's Eyes
Abstract: Two streams with divergent perspectives can currently be observed in misinformation research. On the one hand, studies show how the amount of misinformation exposure is relatively low and concentrated among a small group of people, creating a more optimistic sentiment amongst a group of academics when it comes to the societal distortion of misinformation. On the other hand, certain academics warn that we should not see the spread of misinformation as moral panic or as overblown, arguing that the fight against misinformation is “valid, warranted and urgently required.” In order to move the field forward, it could be argued that we should focus more on who this debate is about, namely the audience. To better capture the audience's subjective experiences, I introduce the concept of “misinformation nearness,” which captures how citizens perceive the proximity of misinformation in terms of its span, availability, and accessibility. Adopting such an audience-centered lens may deepen our understanding of how people navigate today’s complex information environment challenged by fear of misinformation.
Bio: Toni G. L. A. van der Meer is an Associate Professor in Communication Science at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam. His research is broadly centered around the study of disruptions in communication. More specifically, his research interests lie in the realms of crisis communication, the impact of misinformation, biases in news media coverage and selection, and media literacy.