Episode # 10: The Impact of Mis/Disinformation - An Interview with Yotam Ophir, Ph.D.

Did you notice more mis/disinformation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on social media? Have you noticed how mis/disinformation (and conspiracy theories) are used by certain groups to motivate acts of hate and violence toward our government, towards Black and Brown people, Jews, and other racial and ethnic minorities? 

In this episode, Tim Jordan (host), interviews Dr. Yotam Ophir, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication from the University at Buffalo, New York. Dr. Ophir is originally from Israel. Therefore, his perspectives on U.S. society are “fresh” and unbiased. Listen to the fascinating and far-ranging interview.    

Resources for this podcast:

• University at Buffalo Website: buffalo.edu
• Department of Communication at the University at Buffalo: buffalo.edu/cas/communication.html
• Dr. Ophir Yotam’s Website: https://ophiryotam.com/
• Ophir’s Co-Authored Book: “Democracy amid Crises: Polarization, Pandemic, Protests, & Persuasion.” https://a.co/d/5qowYBY on Amazon.

 

• The Difference Between Misinformation and Disinformation from the American Psychological Association:  https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/misinformation-disinformation

 

• How Disinformation is Spread Online: World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/four-ways-disinformation-campaigns-are-propagated-online/

 

• Research Studies on Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories:

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2022.2077654
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10410236.2022.2054102?journalCode=hhth20
3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625211012630