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How Susceptible Are You to Misinformation? There’s a Test You Can Take (www.scientificamerican.com)

submitted 1 year ago by readbeanicecream@kbin.social to c/science@kbin.social

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A new misinformation quiz shows that, despite the stereotype, younger Americans have a harder time discerning fake headlines, compared with older generations

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[–] Mane25@feddit.uk 2 points 1 year ago

“Tornado rearranges DC highway into giant peace sign” could happen, theoretically, but it’s very unlikely to.

That would be an example where I can apply my existing knowledge, I know enough about tornados, highways, and peace signs to know that's statistically improbable.

Whereas “Government appoints new head of some environmental division” I don't know, sounds perfectly reasonable and plausible, but I couldn't possibly say. In real life I could reason that a newspaper would have no reason to make up something so mundane (that's why context is important), but knowing this is a test with fake answers makes it random chance.