Why is there so much misinformation online (and everywhere else?)
Before we start on Brandolini's Law: I can't recommend enough the seminal text by American philosopher Harry Frankfurt: "On Bullshit". Arguably one of the most important works of XX century philosophy and it's very accessible, so don't be afraid to try it :)
Brandolini's Law aka the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle
The reason is Brandolini's Law, also known as the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle. Formulated by Italian software developer Alberto Brandolini, this principle states that disproving false information requires significantly more energy than creating it. This imbalance makes it easier to spread falsehoods than to correct them, especially on social media and other digital platforms. This environment, coupled with humans' tendency to seek information confirming their beliefs (confirmation bias), amplifies misinformation.
To counteract this, fact-checking and scepticism are crucial, but the challenge remains daunting due to the inherent effort disparity emphasized by Brandolini's Law.
In professional settings, this law is equally applicable. Leaders often face the challenging task of correcting oversimplified ideas or misinterpretations, whether it's about market trends, technical concepts, new technologies, project goals, or complex challenges. Each instance requires a disproportionate amount of effort to correct compared to the simplicity with which the incorrect notions were introduced and adopted.
More on Brandolini's Law aka the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle here.
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