The Tangible Dangers Of Misinformation Beyond Online Forums And Into

The Pervasive Threat of Misinformation: From Digital Whispers to Real-World Harm In an increasingly interconnected world, the rapid dissemination of information has become a double-edged sword. While offering unprecedented access to knowledge and facilitating global communication, the digital age has also ushered in an era of rampant misinformation. The dangers posed by this phenomenon extend far beyond the confines of online forums, manifesting tangibly in societal rifts, wasted resources, hampered policy initiatives, and even physical harm. Understanding the multifaceted nature of this threat and its real-world consequences is crucial for developing effective countermeasures. Misinformation, often disguised as authentic content, insidiously infiltrates public discourse, eroding trust in established institutions, experts, and even scientific consensus.

The ease with which fabricated narratives can be crafted and disseminated through social media platforms and other online channels has created an environment ripe for manipulation and exploitation. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting not only individual beliefs but also societal cohesion and stability. The spread of false or misleading information can fuel polarization, exacerbating existing tensions and creating new fault lines within communities. As individuals retreat into echo chambers, reinforcing pre-existing biases and rejecting dissenting viewpoints, the very fabric of civil discourse becomes frayed. The economic implications of misinformation are equally significant. Wasted resources are diverted towards combating false narratives, debunking conspiracy theories, and addressing the fallout from misinformed decisions.

Businesses face reputational damage and financial losses due to the spread of false rumors or malicious campaigns. Government agencies struggle to implement effective policies when public trust is undermined by misinformation campaigns targeting their initiatives. Furthermore, the spread of false information related to health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can lead to vaccine hesitancy, hindering public health efforts and prolonging the crisis. Beyond the economic and social costs, misinformation can have dire consequences for individual safety and well-being. False information about medical treatments can lead to harmful self-medication or the rejection of evidence-based therapies. Misleading information about natural disasters or emergencies can hamper evacuation efforts and put lives at risk.

The incitement of violence and hatred through online platforms fueled by misinformation has resulted in real-world acts of aggression, targeting specific communities and individuals. The rise of online harassment, cyberbullying, and doxing are further manifestations of the harmful potential of misinformation. Subodh Mishra is Global Head of Communications at ISS STOXX. This post is based on an ISS ESG memorandum by Avleen Kaur, Corporate Ratings Research Sector Head for Technology, Media, and Telecommunications, at ISS ESG. In an era of rapidly evolving digital technologies, information integrity has become a growing concern. Current threats include “misinformation,” defined as inaccurate information shared without the intent to cause harm; and “disinformation,” inaccurate information deliberately disseminated with the purpose of deceiving audiences and doing harm.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025, survey respondents identified misinformation and disinformation as leading global risks. Moreover, misinformation and disinformation can interact with and be exacerbated by other technological and societal factors, such as the rise of AI-generated content. This post examines some contemporary online risks, including problems highlighted by ISS ESG Screening & Controversies data. Additional data from the ISS ESG Corporate Rating offer insight into how companies in the Interactive Media and Online Communications industry are responding to such risks. The post also reviews evolving regulation that is shaping the digital landscape and the response to misinformation, disinformation, and related threats. With an estimated two-thirds of the global population having an online presence, the majority of whom are also social media users, the number of people such content might reach has also expanded significantly.

Furthermore, social media organizations need to provide corrections to misinformation and point out that information may be wrong or misleading. Second, the findings highlight the importance of media literacy education (Chen et al., 2022; Fendt et al., 2023). These media literacy programs should promote critical thinking skills and provide concrete strategies and techniques individuals can deploy for fact-checking and verifying information. Nature volume 630, pages 45–53 (2024)Cite this article The controversy over online misinformation and social media has opened a gap between public discourse and scientific research. Public intellectuals and journalists frequently make sweeping claims about the effects of exposure to false content online that are inconsistent with much of the current empirical evidence.

Here we identify three common misperceptions: that average exposure to problematic content is high, that algorithms are largely responsible for this exposure and that social media is a primary cause of broader social problems... In our review of behavioural science research on online misinformation, we document a pattern of low exposure to false and inflammatory content that is concentrated among a narrow fringe with strong motivations to seek... In response, we recommend holding platforms accountable for facilitating exposure to false and extreme content in the tails of the distribution, where consumption is highest and the risk of real-world harm is greatest. We also call for increased platform transparency, including collaborations with outside researchers, to better evaluate the effects of online misinformation and the most effective responses to it. Taking these steps is especially important outside the USA and Western Europe, where research and data are scant and harms may be more severe. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription Ceren Budak, Brendan Nyhan, David M. Rothschild, Emily Thorson, Duncan J. Watts The controversy over online misinformation and social media has opened a gap between public discourse and scientific research.

Public intellectuals and journalists frequently make sweeping claims about the effects of exposure to false content online that are inconsistent with much of the current empirical evidence. Here we identify three common misperceptions: that average exposure to problematic content is high, that algorithms are largely responsible for this exposure and that social media is a primary cause of broader social problems... In our review of behavioural science research on online misinformation, we document a pattern of low exposure to false and inflammatory content that is concentrated among a narrow fringe with strong motivations to seek... In response, we recommend holding platforms accountable for facilitating exposure to false and extreme content in the tails of the distribution, where consumption is highest and the risk of real-world harm is greatest. We also call for increased platform transparency, including collaborations with outside researchers, to better evaluate the effects of online misinformation and the most effective responses to it. Taking these steps is especially important outside the USA and Western Europe, where research and data are scant and harms may be more severe.

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