A progress-studies approach to “misinformation” would be to start by asking: when and how has misinformation been successfully corrected in the past? That is, when and how have we made progress against misinformation? And what can we learn from that success?

What are some examples? For instance:

  • My impression is that people in the Middle Ages believed all sorts of crazy superstitions. Some people still believe crazy superstitions today, but I think it has been reduced? How did that happen?
  • Or, take anti-vaccine sentiment. This has been around as long as vaccines themselves, and still persists. But has progress ever been made against it in any place or time? Where, when, and how?

What else?

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