#43 Is Disinformation Really the Problem?
What if disinformation itself isn’t actually the problem?
In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Jordy Nijenhuis is joined by Vivian Gerrand to unpack new research into how communities can respond when disinformation contributes to polarisation, social tension, and even violent extremism.
Rather than focusing only on whether information is true or false, they ask what makes certain narratives resonate in the first place. Grievance, distrust, identity, belonging and outrage all matter—and simply providing better facts may not be enough.
Drawing on conversations with practitioners from around the world, the episode explores why local communities could be one of our strongest lines of defence. From trusted messengers and storytelling to prevention, emotional literacy and sustainable funding, this is a conversation about moving beyond fact-checking towards responses that address why disinformation works.
You can find the policy brief here.