Misinformation spreads like a virus with no physical contact required

Evidence

The second proposition is that, just like regular viral pathogens, fake news must spread from one person to another. In fact, in 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a worldwide ‘infodemic’. One thing to keep in mind is that, by themselves, viruses cannot survive for very long outside of the body. They need a host. The same is true of misinformation. On its own a misleading tweet or fake news headline doesn’t do much – it needs a susceptible host in order to reproduce and spread. Biological viruses usually spread via contact or respiratory droplets. But viruses of the mind are even more contagious because they can be shared from one individual to the next without the need for any physical contact. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 23

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the book’s core ‘misinformation as virus’ frame — viruses of the mind, the WHO-declared infodemic.
• XREF: connects to: Misinformation spread online can be modeled as an epidemic using the SIR model — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 445; Misinformation hijacks cognitive machinery and resists correction like a virus — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 22; Sustained misinformation immunity requires periodic booster reminders — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 814 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Misinformation hijacks cognitive machinery and resists correction like a virus #qualifies (0.85) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 22
• Epidemiological models can study the spread of misinformation online. #expands (0.82) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 342
• Awareness of a correction does not stop misinformation from infecting related memories #expands (0.80)
• Inoculation can spread socially like herd immunity against misinformation #expands (0.80) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 989
• Exposure to weakened misinformation builds psychological immunity against it #expands (0.78) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 24
• Sustained misinformation immunity requires periodic booster reminders #expands (0.72) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 814