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Spring 2024

Communication, Academic

letters arranged on wooden board background to spell misinformation
Spring 2024

Slowing misinformation’s spread: Q&A with Porismita Borah

Porismita Borah, a professor at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, researches the spread of misinformation on digital platforms. While rumors, conspiracies, and falsehoods abound online, Borah says corrections and content warnings are effective ways to slow the spread of misinformation.

She talked to Washington State Magazine about why we are susceptible to false information and how we can be more astute about spotting misinformation.

 

Q: We frequently hear these two terms—misinformation and disinformation. What do they mean?

A: Both are false, but misinformation can be shared without the person knowing that it is incorrect. Disinformation is far … » More …

Teenagers searching online with mobile phones and tablet
Spring 2024

TikTok Rx: Youth turn to social media for health advice

Young people have lots of questions about diet, exercise, and sexual health. TikTok is one of their most trusted venues for finding out information.

“They’ll go to TikTok and ask questions,” says Nicole O’Donnell, assistant professor at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. “They’re learning about health mostly through other people’s stories rather than some of the traditional health information you might get online.”

But are they getting good health advice? In a recent study, O’Donnell analyzed health content on TikTok. Influencers with motivational stories were prevalent, while content from credentialed health providers was lacking.

… » More …