Curiositea in Review: Ep. 7
Fighting Disinformation with Curiosity
In Episode 7 of Curiositea, Glen and Savannah had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Pauline Hoffman, a communications professor, public health strategist, and passionate advocate of critical thinking and media literacy. The conversation tackled one of today’s most pressing issues: disinformation, its real-world consequences, and how we can better equip ourselves and others to spot and stop it. Listening to the conversation back, here were some of the most powerful takeaways. . .
POWERFUL TAKEAWAYS
1. “Care Before You Share”
Pauline emphasized the importance of pausing before reposting content online. In a world flooded with headlines and hot takes, taking a moment to verify information can help stop the spread of falsehoods.
2. Critical Thinking Is a Practice, Not a Trait
It’s not about being “smart.” It’s about being curious and reflective. Thinking critically means questioning sources, understanding context, and being open to updating your views when presented with new evidence.
3. Disinformation Is Often Emotional, Not Logical
People fall for disinformation not because they’re unintelligent, but because they feel unheard, scared, or overwhelmed. Pauline reminded us that empathy is essential when discussing misinformation with others.
4. Social Media Is the New Word-of-Mouth on Steroids
Platforms amplify both good and bad information rapidly. The speed and scale make it easier for falsehoods to go viral and harder to pull them back once they do.
5. Real-World Harm Is Happening
Whether it’s the Sandy Hook lawsuits or the Dominion Voting case, disinformation isn’t harmless. It can ruin reputations, destroy trust, and in some cases, even threaten lives.
QUESTIONS WE’RE STILL THINKING ABOUT
+ How do you engage with someone who believes misinformation without alienating them?
What’s the role of empathy and listening in these moments?
+ What’s the right balance between free speech and regulating false information online?
Can platforms do more without crossing into censorship?
+ Should schools be required to teach media literacy from an early age?
If so, what would that curriculum look like?
+ What tools can the average person use to fact-check quickly and reliably?
(We’re looking into resources like AllSides, Snopes, and NewsGuard.)
+ How will AI influence the future of disinformation?
Can it be used to fight the problem, or will it make things worse?
FINAL THOUGHTS
As Pauline put it so well: “Curiosity is essential.” When we ask questions, explore different perspectives, and stay open-minded, we become part of the solution. Fighting disinformation doesn’t require perfection. It just takes a little more pause, a little more care, and a lot more curiosity.
What are you curious about?
Send us your questions, thoughts, or disinformation stories and maybe we’ll explore them in a future episode!