“I have done a lot of my own research on this topic.” “Younger people nowadays think you know more than us older folks!” “You don’t need to fact-check every single thing.”

Anyone who has ever faced the heartache and displeasure of battling misinformation would be familiar with these types of statements. The thing about misinformation is not only that anyone can fall for it at some point or other; it can also impact society so greatly, it costs actual human lives.

The pandemic has shown how vaccine hesitancy and beliefs in unproven remedies impacted public and global health. Relationships between family members and friends have been known to have fractured as a result.

The best way to combat fake news is to look at the facts. Here are some findings by those who have conducted academic studies and research on this topic.

1. Stop, think, and reason on social media

Misinformation can be defined as “cases in which people’s beliefs about factual matters are not supported by clear evidence and expert opinion”. What happens in your parents’ Whatsapp chat groups happens a lot: it is shared on impulse, very quickly, and without much thought.

This is why many experts on fake news and misinformation, such as David Rand, a professor of management science and brain and cognitive sciences at MIT, say the best advice you can give to your loved ones is simply to slow down, pause, and think.

Tip: Encourage your family members and friends to do this, and remind them that not everyone has to be a “breaking news provider”. Emphasise fact-checking before sharing.

2. Don’t be overly accepting of weak claims

Research also shows that those most likely to believe misinformation and fake news overclaim their level of knowledge, and are impressed by statements that appear to be deep and have no actual real meaning. “We are in the midst of a high-frequency blossoming of interconnectedness that will give us access to the quantum soup itself” is one example.

Behavioural scientist Gordon Pennycook says there is “a general tendency for people to engage in ‘reflexive open-mindedness’, which means they are overly willing to accept or believe claims without thinking analytically about them”.

Tip: It’s not a good idea to tell a believer of misinformation that they are brainwashed, stupid or weak, says cult deprogrammer and mind-control expert Steve Hassan. It takes time for people to change their views, but they can be pulled away from conspiracies if people engage with them respectfully.

3. Understand fear and concern

It is easy to feel angry and frustrated with people who believe misinformation to such an extent that their actions impact public health. But Jeanine Guidry, who has conducted many studies about social media and health communications, says the majority of those who spread this type of misinformation – for instance, concerning vaccinations – are just scared or concerned.

“They really think this may hurt them or their family or their kids now, or in 10 years,” she said in an interview.

Other research has found that emotional mindsets such as anger and anxiety also make people more vulnerable to misinformation. Remember, emotion influences choices, and can also cloud judgment and make people susceptible to group-think.

Tip: When it comes to potentially contentious matters, keep lines of communication open and to try to do it in person, private chat, or via a phone call.

4. Educate yourself and others

Arm yourselves and your children so you are not vulnerable to misinformation. Train family and friends to be less susceptible to fake news, because it is harder to correct or change beliefs after misinformation has taken hold.

Tips: Media and statistical literacy are some of the most important weapons you have. In the case of the pandemic, those who understood statistics and data were more likely to wear a mask, practise social distancing, and get vaccinated to prevent others from getting infected.

Always ask: “Who is saying this, can you provide the names of the researchers?” or “Are you sure that is what those statistics mean?”

Make sure your family and friends see you practising good verification habits. Let them hear you say things like: “Let me check that source first”, or: “Let me get back to you, I do not share information that can’t be verified.”

Do your homework. According to Harvard University cognitive scientist Nadia Brashier, you can actually correct someone’s thinking if you replace a piece of misinformation with something concrete. So, share facts in the place of falsehoods.

Furthermore, try the “truth sandwich”. This involves stating what is true, declaring that a false claim has been made about that truth, and then emphasising that truth. Don’t repeat the falsehood, because when you amplify the lie, you give it power.

Another effective approach is to use the Socratic method of questioning. This challenges people to come up with sources, defend their positions, and reveal inconsistencies themselves. Questions include:

• “Why do you believe this source over another?”
• “No medical product or intervention can be guaranteed to be 100% safe, do you see this differently?”
• “There might be potential in this medicine, but why has no government in the world approved it yet?”

Finally, all individuals should follow a diversity of news sources, and be sceptical of what they read and watch. The best protection against false news and misinformation is to follow, engage, and be friends with a diversity of people and perspectives.

5. Say something – anything

Every little push against misinformation counts. Social psychologist H Colleen Sinclair says even short-format refutations like “this isn’t true” are more effective than saying nothing.

Shifting someone’s perspective even a little can add up in the long run.

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This article was written by Koh Lay Chin at makchic, a Malaysian-based online site for chic, curious, and spirited parents. makchic and has been providing trustworthy and authentic family-related content since 2013. For diverse stories of parenthood that inform, support, and uplift all families, visit makchic.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.