Originally published on 25 January 2026
In this episode, we look at how there is too much information in our society for people to digest. As well as the positives and negatives of having so much information at our fingertips, we also look at the damning effect misinformation, disinformation and misinterpretation can have on people and organisations.
There has never been a more important time to remember the phrase: “Don’t believe everything you read.”
In an age dominated by clickbait and the relentless pace of social media, misinformation, disinformation and misinterpretation are more prevalent than ever. While some posts and publications are factually accurate, many are not, and there are several reasons for this. Mainstream media outlets often rush to publish news faster than their competitors, sometimes sacrificing accuracy for speed, adding phrases like “it is alleged” or “it is expected” is sometimes seen as sufficient to avoid accountability, but in reality, media organisations must adhere to ethical codes, codes that seem increasingly ok to be overlooked in the race for attention.
However, it is not just mainstream media and small publications that do this. The general public contributes widely to the spread, whether intentionally or not, be sharing posts and controversially posting reactions rather than responses.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, but we never truly know just how far and wide our posts, reactions and reshares are going.
Play the episode to find out more about the definitions of misinformation, disinformation and misinterpretation with a segway of briefly to perception and cognitive dissonance.
Science under threat: the politics of institutionalised disinformation, The Royal Society
Misinformation and disinformation, Britannica
The Brain: Everything You Need to Know Paperback, by New Scientist
Other links:Love your hippo / DragonKind Novelties
Intro music: moodmode on Pixabay
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
