what happened to facts this is a question I asked myself a few months ago
question I asked myself a few months ago
question I asked myself a few months ago actually as I was browsing through my
actually as I was browsing through my
actually as I was browsing through my facebook page dodging the usual wedding
facebook page dodging the usual wedding
facebook page dodging the usual wedding pictures and baby pictures and cat memes
pictures and baby pictures and cat memes
pictures and baby pictures and cat memes and then all of a sudden and a post
and then all of a sudden and a post
and then all of a sudden and a post actually caught my attention and it was
actually caught my attention and it was
actually caught my attention and it was a post from a facebook friend who will
a post from a facebook friend who will
a post from a facebook friend who will remain anonymous for the sake of this
remain anonymous for the sake of this
remain anonymous for the sake of this presentation
presentation
presentation now the Facebook post actually was the
now the Facebook post actually was the
now the Facebook post actually was the usual rant against the Italian
usual rant against the Italian
usual rant against the Italian government
government
government I was unusual about it was the level of
I was unusual about it was the level of
I was unusual about it was the level of specificity of the criticism so I went
specificity of the criticism so I went
specificity of the criticism so I went on more or less like this the Italian
on more or less like this the Italian
on more or less like this the Italian government is terrible GDP is the
government is terrible GDP is the
government is terrible GDP is the creasing and unemployment is going up so
creasing and unemployment is going up so
creasing and unemployment is going up so me being the nerd I am of course the
me being the nerd I am of course the
me being the nerd I am of course the first fig I go is go out and find some
first fig I go is go out and find some
first fig I go is go out and find some data to see whether this was true or not
data to see whether this was true or not
data to see whether this was true or not so here I have the data for you this is
so here I have the data for you this is
so here I have the data for you this is the data from the National Institute of
the data from the National Institute of
the data from the National Institute of Statistics in Italy in the top you see
Statistics in Italy in the top you see
Statistics in Italy in the top you see the GDP growth rate of Italy between
the GDP growth rate of Italy between
the GDP growth rate of Italy between 2011 and 2013 the red line actually
2011 and 2013 the red line actually
2011 and 2013 the red line actually highlights when the government my friend
highlights when the government my friend
highlights when the government my friend was talking about took charge as you can
was talking about took charge as you can
was talking about took charge as you can see before that Italy went through a
see before that Italy went through a
see before that Italy went through a pretty severe recession but after that
pretty severe recession but after that
pretty severe recession but after that the economy was actually picking up
the economy was actually picking up
the economy was actually picking up perhaps not a lot but at a steady manner
perhaps not a lot but at a steady manner
perhaps not a lot but at a steady manner so the trend was definitely upwards not
so the trend was definitely upwards not
so the trend was definitely upwards not downwards now if we take a look at
downwards now if we take a look at
downwards now if we take a look at unemployment sort of a same thing
unemployment sort of a same thing
unemployment sort of a same thing happens around February 2014
happens around February 2014
happens around February 2014 unemployment was slightly above 12% and
unemployment was slightly above 12% and
unemployment was slightly above 12% and when the government left was slightly
when the government left was slightly
when the government left was slightly below to understand so even here the
below to understand so even here the
below to understand so even here the trend was downward perhaps not a great
trend was downward perhaps not a great
trend was downward perhaps not a great increase but still so of course me not
increase but still so of course me not
increase but still so of course me not just being the usual nerd but being the
just being the usual nerd but being the
just being the usual nerd but being the annoying nerd that replies to your
annoying nerd that replies to your
annoying nerd that replies to your Facebook posts
Facebook posts
Facebook posts I go on I reply to his Facebook post and
I go on I reply to his Facebook post and
I go on I reply to his Facebook post and I say actually the opposite is true by
I say actually the opposite is true by
I say actually the opposite is true by the way GDP is going up and unemployment
the way GDP is going up and unemployment
the way GDP is going up and unemployment is going down and here are the
is going down and here are the
is going down and here are the statistics so you can check here’s the
statistics so you can check here’s the
statistics so you can check here’s the moment of brilliance though his reply
moment of brilliance though his reply
moment of brilliance though his reply his reply went on like this well we
his reply went on like this well we
his reply went on like this well we might just have different opinions than
might just have different opinions than
might just have different opinions than smiley feet so of course I’m a social
smiley feet so of course I’m a social
smiley feet so of course I’m a social scientist right so I’m a little shocked
scientist right so I’m a little shocked
scientist right so I’m a little shocked about this because in my world
about this because in my world
about this because in my world statistics are facts these are not
statistics are facts these are not
statistics are facts these are not opinions for me this was my first hand
opinions for me this was my first hand
opinions for me this was my first hand experience with a phenomenon that has
experience with a phenomenon that has
experience with a phenomenon that has been called recently post truth so for
been called recently post truth so for
been called recently post truth so for those of you that don’t know the term
those of you that don’t know the term
those of you that don’t know the term post truth was the 2016 word of the year
post truth was the 2016 word of the year
post truth was the 2016 word of the year as nominated by Oxford dictionary’s and
as nominated by Oxford dictionary’s and
as nominated by Oxford dictionary’s and sort of is is a term that is used to
sort of is is a term that is used to
sort of is is a term that is used to describe an interesting trend in our
describe an interesting trend in our
describe an interesting trend in our society that is that objective facts are
society that is that objective facts are
society that is that objective facts are becoming less and less influential on
becoming less and less influential on
becoming less and less influential on people’s behavior and decision-making
people’s behavior and decision-making
people’s behavior and decision-making and subjective opinions are becoming
and subjective opinions are becoming
and subjective opinions are becoming more and more important to the point
more and more important to the point
more and more important to the point that fact and fiction is becoming hard
that fact and fiction is becoming hard
that fact and fiction is becoming hard to tease apart
to tease apart
to tease apart so of course I’m interesting about this
so of course I’m interesting about this
so of course I’m interesting about this right and trying to understand sort of
right and trying to understand sort of
right and trying to understand sort of what happened and this goes back to my
what happened and this goes back to my
what happened and this goes back to my first question and specifically what
first question and specifically what
first question and specifically what happened to the Internet and to social
happened to the Internet and to social
happened to the Internet and to social networks since this is what I study now
networks since this is what I study now
networks since this is what I study now before actually understanding how social
before actually understanding how social
before actually understanding how social network had an impact on all of this
network had an impact on all of this
network had an impact on all of this perhaps is good to realize that facts
perhaps is good to realize that facts
perhaps is good to realize that facts were actually never objective in the
were actually never objective in the
were actually never objective in the first place so let me give you an
first place so let me give you an
first place so let me give you an example for that here we have four bars
example for that here we have four bars
example for that here we have four bars a bar to the left bar X and three bars
a bar to the left bar X and three bars
a bar to the left bar X and three bars to the right a B and C I have a very
to the right a B and C I have a very
to the right a B and C I have a very simple question for you how long is X
simple question for you how long is X
simple question for you how long is X and specifically is X as long as a B or
and specifically is X as long as a B or
and specifically is X as long as a B or C so let me see let me see a show of
C so let me see let me see a show of
C so let me see let me see a show of hands here how many of you think that X
hands here how many of you think that X
hands here how many of you think that X has the same length of a
okay how many of you think that X has
okay how many of you think that X has the same length of B what about C okay
the same length of B what about C okay
the same length of B what about C okay so there’s no trick here no sort of
so there’s no trick here no sort of
so there’s no trick here no sort of perception game X is actually as long as
perception game X is actually as long as
perception game X is actually as long as B so the vast majority of you actually
B so the vast majority of you actually
B so the vast majority of you actually got it right and this is not perhaps
got it right and this is not perhaps
got it right and this is not perhaps surprising what’s more interesting is to
surprising what’s more interesting is to
surprising what’s more interesting is to sort of figure out why you got it right
sort of figure out why you got it right
sort of figure out why you got it right in the first place so I’m sure that some
in the first place so I’m sure that some
in the first place so I’m sure that some of you just saw the objective reality of
of you just saw the objective reality of
of you just saw the objective reality of this perhaps some other people were a
this perhaps some other people were a
this perhaps some other people were a bit puzzled and just waited for to see
bit puzzled and just waited for to see
bit puzzled and just waited for to see what the person next to you actually
what the person next to you actually
what the person next to you actually ended up doing right so perhaps rather
ended up doing right so perhaps rather
ended up doing right so perhaps rather than looking at the objective reality
than looking at the objective reality
than looking at the objective reality you sort of consider others opinions to
you sort of consider others opinions to
you sort of consider others opinions to make your decision and this was the
make your decision and this was the
make your decision and this was the objective of the conformity experiments
objective of the conformity experiments
objective of the conformity experiments done in the 50s by Solomon – Solomon
done in the 50s by Solomon – Solomon
done in the 50s by Solomon – Solomon Asch was actually interesting it is in
Asch was actually interesting it is in
Asch was actually interesting it is in out the effect of conformity versus
out the effect of conformity versus
out the effect of conformity versus objective reality and he asked exactly
objective reality and he asked exactly
objective reality and he asked exactly the same question I ask you right now
the same question I ask you right now
the same question I ask you right now perhaps not surprisingly 99% of people
perhaps not surprisingly 99% of people
perhaps not surprisingly 99% of people actually got it right but then Solomon
actually got it right but then Solomon
actually got it right but then Solomon has more men tweaked it a little bit so
has more men tweaked it a little bit so
has more men tweaked it a little bit so he asked the same question to a
he asked the same question to a
he asked the same question to a participant before asking the question
participant before asking the question
participant before asking the question though he let the participant sit and
though he let the participant sit and
though he let the participant sit and see the answers of seven other people
see the answers of seven other people
see the answers of seven other people now what the participant didn’t know is
now what the participant didn’t know is
now what the participant didn’t know is that Solomon planted the answer in these
that Solomon planted the answer in these
that Solomon planted the answer in these seven other people and every single
seven other people and every single
seven other people and every single other person actually gave the wrong
other person actually gave the wrong
other person actually gave the wrong answer so a at that point clearly the
answer so a at that point clearly the
answer so a at that point clearly the participant is a bit puzzled right is a
participant is a bit puzzled right is a
participant is a bit puzzled right is a or B that I answer turned out that in
or B that I answer turned out that in
or B that I answer turned out that in the under this condition and over twelve
the under this condition and over twelve
the under this condition and over twelve repeated trials 75% of people at least
repeated trials 75% of people at least
repeated trials 75% of people at least once conformed to the wrong answer and
once conformed to the wrong answer and
once conformed to the wrong answer and an astonishing third confirm to the
an astonishing third confirm to the
an astonishing third confirm to the wrong answer the majority of the time
wrong answer the majority of the time
wrong answer the majority of the time now this is to a highlight an
now this is to a highlight an
now this is to a highlight an interesting aspect about facts that is
interesting aspect about facts that is
interesting aspect about facts that is the facts are socially constructed
the facts are socially constructed
the facts are socially constructed meaning that the way we see reality is
meaning that the way we see reality is
meaning that the way we see reality is only partially influenced by the
only partially influenced by the
only partially influenced by the objective truth and a lot of the times
objective truth and a lot of the times
objective truth and a lot of the times social processes end up effective how we
social processes end up effective how we
social processes end up effective how we think about reality and what we
think about reality and what we
think about reality and what we think truth really is now pretty clearly
think truth really is now pretty clearly
think truth really is now pretty clearly the advent of the internet might have
the advent of the internet might have
the advent of the internet might have exacerbated this problem check out what
exacerbated this problem check out what
exacerbated this problem check out what happened last year in Velez a small town
happened last year in Velez a small town
happened last year in Velez a small town in Macedonia this is a rural town 50,000
in Macedonia this is a rural town 50,000
in Macedonia this is a rural town 50,000 inhabitants but this town became the
inhabitants but this town became the
inhabitants but this town became the fake news capital of the world and this
fake news capital of the world and this
fake news capital of the world and this was because a set of teenagers from
was because a set of teenagers from
was because a set of teenagers from Velez started blogs they started to
Velez started blogs they started to
Velez started blogs they started to publish fake news about the presidential
publish fake news about the presidential
publish fake news about the presidential elections now why they were doing that
elections now why they were doing that
elections now why they were doing that well they were not really interested in
well they were not really interested in
well they were not really interested in affecting the outcome of the elections
affecting the outcome of the elections
affecting the outcome of the elections what they were interested in was in to
what they were interested in was in to
what they were interested in was in to click baiting people so that by reading
click baiting people so that by reading
click baiting people so that by reading their fake news they could actually make
their fake news they could actually make
their fake news they could actually make money using advertising now their plan
money using advertising now their plan
money using advertising now their plan didn’t didn’t go through Google shut
didn’t didn’t go through Google shut
didn’t didn’t go through Google shut them down but not before having millions
them down but not before having millions
them down but not before having millions of people clicking on those fake news
of people clicking on those fake news
of people clicking on those fake news and I cannot help but thinking how many
and I cannot help but thinking how many
and I cannot help but thinking how many thousands of people change their mind
thousands of people change their mind
thousands of people change their mind about who to elect perhaps based on a
about who to elect perhaps based on a
about who to elect perhaps based on a fake news coming out of Macedonia of
fake news coming out of Macedonia of
fake news coming out of Macedonia of course as a social network scientist I’m
course as a social network scientist I’m
course as a social network scientist I’m very interested about this I want to try
very interested about this I want to try
very interested about this I want to try to figure out what’s the role of social
to figure out what’s the role of social
to figure out what’s the role of social media into all of this so let’s let’s
media into all of this so let’s let’s
media into all of this so let’s let’s take a look at this before the advent of
take a look at this before the advent of
take a look at this before the advent of social media let’s assume that you had a
social media let’s assume that you had a
social media let’s assume that you had a set of people in the American East Coast
set of people in the American East Coast
set of people in the American East Coast and other set of people in the American
and other set of people in the American
and other set of people in the American West Coast and let’s assume that one
West Coast and let’s assume that one
West Coast and let’s assume that one person the East Coast wanted to say
person the East Coast wanted to say
person the East Coast wanted to say something to somebody in the West Coast
something to somebody in the West Coast
something to somebody in the West Coast well again before the internet he could
well again before the internet he could
well again before the internet he could do that for instance by setting up a
do that for instance by setting up a
do that for instance by setting up a phone contract a long-range phone
phone contract a long-range phone
phone contract a long-range phone contract which at the time were very
contract which at the time were very
contract which at the time were very expensive but making a phone call as
expensive but making a phone call as
expensive but making a phone call as expensive as it can be is still doable
expensive as it can be is still doable
expensive as it can be is still doable now what becomes not doable is making a
now what becomes not doable is making a
now what becomes not doable is making a phone call to everybody on the american
phone call to everybody on the american
phone call to everybody on the american west coast so all of a sudden we have a
west coast so all of a sudden we have a
west coast so all of a sudden we have a problem how do we diffuse information in
problem how do we diffuse information in
problem how do we diffuse information in society well that’s when intermediaries
society well that’s when intermediaries
society well that’s when intermediaries come up what we call media media can do
come up what we call media media can do
come up what we call media media can do this in a very efficient manner why
this in a very efficient manner why
this in a very efficient manner why because they’re able to congregate and
because they’re able to congregate and
because they’re able to congregate and gather information from many people and
gather information from many people and
gather information from many people and then redistributed to somebody else and
then redistributed to somebody else and
then redistributed to somebody else and by doing that they’re very efficient
by doing that they’re very efficient
by doing that they’re very efficient because they achieve economies of scale
because they achieve economies of scale
because they achieve economies of scale and specialization but they’re not just
and specialization but they’re not just
and specialization but they’re not just efficient by having that structural
efficient by having that structural
efficient by having that structural position Media can actually filter
position Media can actually filter
position Media can actually filter information so if one piece of
information so if one piece of
information so if one piece of information the red line is actually the
information the red line is actually the
information the red line is actually the good one and the blue lines are the bad
good one and the blue lines are the bad
good one and the blue lines are the bad ones well media can actually figure that
ones well media can actually figure that
ones well media can actually figure that out and decide to reduce remit
out and decide to reduce remit
out and decide to reduce remit retransmit only the red so the good so
retransmit only the red so the good so
retransmit only the red so the good so by doing this they’re actually able to
by doing this they’re actually able to
by doing this they’re actually able to tease out the good news from the bad
tease out the good news from the bad
tease out the good news from the bad news or if you want the signal from the
news or if you want the signal from the
news or if you want the signal from the noise man now social media comes into
noise man now social media comes into
noise man now social media comes into place and social media allows somebody
place and social media allows somebody
place and social media allows somebody from the East Coast to tweet or to post
from the East Coast to tweet or to post
from the East Coast to tweet or to post something directly to somebody on the
something directly to somebody on the
something directly to somebody on the west coast in a very efficient manner
west coast in a very efficient manner
west coast in a very efficient manner now all of a sudden media are corrupt
now all of a sudden media are corrupt
now all of a sudden media are corrupt and not just by one person but by many
and not just by one person but by many
and not just by one person but by many people so our current situation looks
people so our current situation looks
people so our current situation looks more like this all of a sudden as you
more like this all of a sudden as you
more like this all of a sudden as you realize nobody is central anymore nobody
realize nobody is central anymore nobody
realize nobody is central anymore nobody has the power to filter information
has the power to filter information
has the power to filter information anymore it resembles chaos now these
anymore it resembles chaos now these
anymore it resembles chaos now these chaos actually can have a huge impact
chaos actually can have a huge impact
chaos actually can have a huge impact not just on our elections but also on
not just on our elections but also on
not just on our elections but also on our progress as a society for instance
our progress as a society for instance
our progress as a society for instance take vaccination vaccination is widely
take vaccination vaccination is widely
take vaccination vaccination is widely considered one of the greatest medical
considered one of the greatest medical
considered one of the greatest medical achievements of our civilizations and
achievements of our civilizations and
achievements of our civilizations and yet where we’re seeing
yet where we’re seeing
yet where we’re seeing diseases that we used to have defeated
diseases that we used to have defeated
diseases that we used to have defeated like meals mumps whooping cough chicken
like meals mumps whooping cough chicken
like meals mumps whooping cough chicken pox we have vaccines for this for these
pox we have vaccines for this for these
pox we have vaccines for this for these illnesses but they still come back
illnesses but they still come back
illnesses but they still come back actually we have outbreaks not all in
actually we have outbreaks not all in
actually we have outbreaks not all in developing countries but also on
developing countries but also on
developing countries but also on developed countries and why is that
developed countries and why is that
developed countries and why is that because our networks are sharing these
because our networks are sharing these
because our networks are sharing these alternative facts about vaccination
alternative facts about vaccination
alternative facts about vaccination about the idea that vaccines are bad for
about the idea that vaccines are bad for
about the idea that vaccines are bad for us and all of a sudden by not
us and all of a sudden by not
us and all of a sudden by not vaccinating our children people die so
vaccinating our children people die so
vaccinating our children people die so what can we do about this we need to
what can we do about this we need to
what can we do about this we need to find a solution the solution that we
find a solution the solution that we
find a solution the solution that we usually throw out there is called
usually throw out there is called
usually throw out there is called fact-checking fact-checking is is the
fact-checking fact-checking is is the
fact-checking fact-checking is is the idea that we decide to delegate the task
idea that we decide to delegate the task
idea that we decide to delegate the task of discriminating the signal from the
of discriminating the signal from the
of discriminating the signal from the noise to somebody in society now who is
noise to somebody in society now who is
noise to somebody in society now who is going to be this person let’s go back to
going to be this person let’s go back to
going to be this person let’s go back to our network
our network
our network nobody is central anymore nobody
nobody is central anymore nobody
nobody is central anymore nobody the structural position to be able to
the structural position to be able to
the structural position to be able to filter not the newspapers not the state
filter not the newspapers not the state
filter not the newspapers not the state and not Google because everybody can be
and not Google because everybody can be
and not Google because everybody can be cut off and on top of that who would
cut off and on top of that who would
cut off and on top of that who would check our fact checkers so my solution
check our fact checkers so my solution
check our fact checkers so my solution to this problem
to this problem
to this problem is quite simple you have to become the
is quite simple you have to become the
is quite simple you have to become the fact checker and this is extremely hard
fact checker and this is extremely hard
fact checker and this is extremely hard because we don’t we’re not used to think
because we don’t we’re not used to think
because we don’t we’re not used to think in terms of fact-checking we need to
in terms of fact-checking we need to
in terms of fact-checking we need to switch our mentality now think about it
switch our mentality now think about it
switch our mentality now think about it we were brought up in a in a situation
we were brought up in a in a situation
we were brought up in a in a situation where we tend to be the passive
where we tend to be the passive
where we tend to be the passive recipient of information we enter
recipient of information we enter
recipient of information we enter classrooms and have people like me same
classrooms and have people like me same
classrooms and have people like me same things you sit in front of television
things you sit in front of television
things you sit in front of television and then you just see things happening
and then you just see things happening
and then you just see things happening on a television or read newspapers we
on a television or read newspapers we
on a television or read newspapers we tend to be passive recipients passive
tend to be passive recipients passive
tend to be passive recipients passive consumers of information we have to
consumers of information we have to
consumers of information we have to switch that mentality and move from
switch that mentality and move from
switch that mentality and move from being passive to become an active user
being passive to become an active user
being passive to become an active user of information an active diffuser of
of information an active diffuser of
of information an active diffuser of information we need to take action and
information we need to take action and
information we need to take action and how can we take action well we can do
how can we take action well we can do
how can we take action well we can do three things the first thing you can do
three things the first thing you can do
three things the first thing you can do is question more and believe a little
is question more and believe a little
is question more and believe a little less so think about when you have to
less so think about when you have to
less so think about when you have to deal with a used-car salesman would you
deal with a used-car salesman would you
deal with a used-car salesman would you ever believe at least at face value
ever believe at least at face value
ever believe at least at face value whatever he or she says what most
whatever he or she says what most
whatever he or she says what most probably not and for a good reason right
probably not and for a good reason right
probably not and for a good reason right because this person most likely is going
because this person most likely is going
because this person most likely is going to have an agenda that is different from
to have an agenda that is different from
to have an agenda that is different from yours then why for the same reasons we
yours then why for the same reasons we
yours then why for the same reasons we go online and we trust information on
go online and we trust information on
go online and we trust information on our Twitter on our Facebook on blogs and
our Twitter on our Facebook on blogs and
our Twitter on our Facebook on blogs and on websites we should be as be as
on websites we should be as be as
on websites we should be as be as critical as we would be with any sort of
critical as we would be with any sort of
critical as we would be with any sort of vendors when we interact with somebody
vendors when we interact with somebody
vendors when we interact with somebody on the Internet
on the Internet
on the Internet and particularly there are two red flags
and particularly there are two red flags
and particularly there are two red flags that usually pop up one are shocking
that usually pop up one are shocking
that usually pop up one are shocking titles and the second one is the use of
titles and the second one is the use of
titles and the second one is the use of statistics sort of to fool you into
statistics sort of to fool you into
statistics sort of to fool you into thinking something different I have an
thinking something different I have an
thinking something different I have an example here for you this was a title
example here for you this was a title
example here for you this was a title from the Glasgow Herald a newspaper from
from the Glasgow Herald a newspaper from
from the Glasgow Herald a newspaper from Scotland during the swine flu crisis you
Scotland during the swine flu crisis you
Scotland during the swine flu crisis you probably remember it was from a few
probably remember it was from a few
probably remember it was from a few years ago and this was the title
years ago and this was the title
years ago and this was the title there’s a 40 percent rise in swine flu
there’s a 40 percent rise in swine flu
there’s a 40 percent rise in swine flu deaths in 48 hours now this is pretty
deaths in 48 hours now this is pretty
deaths in 48 hours now this is pretty shocking right and if this is true then
shocking right and if this is true then
shocking right and if this is true then definitely we would have to go out and
definitely we would have to go out and
definitely we would have to go out and take action for it but then we read the
take action for it but then we read the
take action for it but then we read the fine print and we realize that this was
fine print and we realize that this was
fine print and we realize that this was due only because two extra people died
due only because two extra people died
due only because two extra people died right so all of a sudden this newspaper
right so all of a sudden this newspaper
right so all of a sudden this newspaper was playing around with statistics to
was playing around with statistics to
was playing around with statistics to try to fool us into reading what they
try to fool us into reading what they
try to fool us into reading what they were trying to write now a good way to
were trying to write now a good way to
were trying to write now a good way to sort of sort out whether somebody’s
sort of sort out whether somebody’s
sort of sort out whether somebody’s trying to do that is to search more and
trying to do that is to search more and
trying to do that is to search more and buy search more I mean let’s just use
buy search more I mean let’s just use
buy search more I mean let’s just use the tools we have to try to figure out
the tools we have to try to figure out
the tools we have to try to figure out where the truth is the point here the
where the truth is the point here the
where the truth is the point here the basic principle is that every single
basic principle is that every single
basic principle is that every single source we read is biased but not every
source we read is biased but not every
source we read is biased but not every single source is biased the same way and
single source is biased the same way and
single source is biased the same way and the only way to remove that bias is for
the only way to remove that bias is for
the only way to remove that bias is for is to triangulate go out find more
is to triangulate go out find more
is to triangulate go out find more sources and try to figure out where the
sources and try to figure out where the
sources and try to figure out where the truth lies if you speak multiple
truth lies if you speak multiple
truth lies if you speak multiple languages that’s great go and read about
languages that’s great go and read about
languages that’s great go and read about the same news in different languages
the same news in different languages
the same news in different languages because that’s already a great way to
because that’s already a great way to
because that’s already a great way to find independent sources but if you
find independent sources but if you
find independent sources but if you don’t well just use Google or your
don’t well just use Google or your
don’t well just use Google or your favorite search engine spend a few
favorite search engine spend a few
favorite search engine spend a few minutes to figure out whether a specific
minutes to figure out whether a specific
minutes to figure out whether a specific piece of information actually is closer
piece of information actually is closer
piece of information actually is closer to reality finally the third thing we
to reality finally the third thing we
to reality finally the third thing we can do is to engage more and we should
can do is to engage more and we should
can do is to engage more and we should engage on a personal level by
engage on a personal level by
engage on a personal level by questioning by searching but also engage
questioning by searching but also engage
questioning by searching but also engage with others but don’t engage like me
with others but don’t engage like me
with others but don’t engage like me don’t do what I did with my friend don’t
don’t do what I did with my friend don’t
don’t do what I did with my friend don’t go on a public space and prove them
go on a public space and prove them
go on a public space and prove them wrong because people don’t like that and
wrong because people don’t like that and
wrong because people don’t like that and that’s just going to backfire engage in
that’s just going to backfire engage in
that’s just going to backfire engage in a more positive manner create open
a more positive manner create open
a more positive manner create open conversations with people that have
conversations with people that have
conversations with people that have different opinions from you it’s very
different opinions from you it’s very
different opinions from you it’s very important to give others the benefit of
important to give others the benefit of
important to give others the benefit of the doubt because this is the best way
the doubt because this is the best way
the doubt because this is the best way to be disproven or to be proven wrong
to be disproven or to be proven wrong
to be disproven or to be proven wrong which is great because that means that
which is great because that means that
which is great because that means that we just learned something so we start
we just learned something so we start
we just learned something so we start this journey from a simple Facebook
this journey from a simple Facebook
this journey from a simple Facebook posts but we sort of realizing this is
posts but we sort of realizing this is
posts but we sort of realizing this is much bigger than that it’s a brand new
much bigger than that it’s a brand new
much bigger than that it’s a brand new world our social networks have
world our social networks have
world our social networks have fundamentally changed information is
fundamentally changed information is
fundamentally changed information is getting democratized
getting democratized
getting democratized and that’s very exciting right because
and that’s very exciting right because
and that’s very exciting right because that means that we have power over
that means that we have power over
that means that we have power over information not anybody else but that’s
information not anybody else but that’s
information not anybody else but that’s also very scary and potentially a threat
also very scary and potentially a threat
also very scary and potentially a threat because if we don’t do something soon
because if we don’t do something soon
because if we don’t do something soon the future and the health of our
the future and the health of our
the future and the health of our democracies of our institutions of our
democracies of our institutions of our
democracies of our institutions of our children is potentially at risk so I’m
children is potentially at risk so I’m
children is potentially at risk so I’m going to leave you with a challenge this
going to leave you with a challenge this
going to leave you with a challenge this is a ratio of three to one of fake news
is a ratio of three to one of fake news
is a ratio of three to one of fake news to good news that are posted on Twitter
to good news that are posted on Twitter
to good news that are posted on Twitter every day together we have to reverse
every day together we have to reverse
every day together we have to reverse this ratio and we can do that only if we
this ratio and we can do that only if we
this ratio and we can do that only if we question more if we search more and we
question more if we search more and we
question more if we search more and we engage more this is important for our
engage more this is important for our
engage more this is important for our future I want to give you I’m gonna
future I want to give you I’m gonna
future I want to give you I’m gonna leave you actually with one final quote
leave you actually with one final quote
leave you actually with one final quote a lot of people think the freedom is the
a lot of people think the freedom is the
a lot of people think the freedom is the possibility to go online and write
possibility to go online and write
possibility to go online and write whatever you want I like to be I like to
whatever you want I like to be I like to
whatever you want I like to be I like to think about freedom in a slightly
think about freedom in a slightly
think about freedom in a slightly different manner and here I’m quoting
different manner and here I’m quoting
different manner and here I’m quoting George a gabber a famous Italian
George a gabber a famous Italian
George a gabber a famous Italian singer-songwriter
singer-songwriter
singer-songwriter freedom for him was participation in the
freedom for him was participation in the
freedom for him was participation in the age of post truth I think these words
age of post truth I think these words
age of post truth I think these words sound as true as ever thank you
sound as true as ever thank you
sound as true as ever thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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