#4 - In the Age of Fake News: Developing Critical Thinking

Learn English while discovering how to spot fake news! In this episode, we explore why false information spreads so quickly and how our minds can be tricked. Using everyday vocabulary and clear examples, we'll help you understand important concepts like "confirmation bias" and "information bubbles" while improving your English listening skills. You'll pick up useful phrases to discuss media literacy while learning practical tips for checking sources and recognizing manipulation techniques. A perfect blend of language practice and essential life skills for navigating today's information-filled world!

References:

- Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. [System 1 and System 2 thinking]

- Wason, P. C. (1960). On the failure to eliminate hypotheses. *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*. [Confirmation bias]

- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973). Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency. *Cognitive Psychology*. [Availability bias]

- Bacon, F. (1620). *Novum Organum*. [Early work on confirmation tendencies]

- Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. *Science*. [False information spreads six times faster than truth]

- Festinger, L., et al. (1956). *When Prophecy Fails*. [Cognitive dissonance]

- World Economic Forum. (2024). *Global Risks Report*. [Misinformation as critical global risk]

- Brandolini, A. (2013). Brandolini's law. [The asymmetry of bullshit principle]

- Bronner, G. (2021). Conspiracy theory formation. *Journal of Social Psychology*. [Analysis of conspiracy emergence timeframes]

- Johnson, N. F., et al. (2020). The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. *Nature*. [Vaccination discourse on social media]

- Bronner, G. (2023-2024). *Rationality in the Age of Misinformation*. Seminar series at La Sorbonne University.