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SUMMARY:Fighting cancer and fake news: A battle against misinformation - A
 lice Hutchings (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20250318T140000Z
DTEND:20250318T150000Z
UID:TALK227593@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Anna Talas
DESCRIPTION:Cancer-related medical misinformation is a wicked problem\, de
 eply embedded in social\, cultural\, and technical systems. It represents 
 a deliberate and profit-driven phenomenon\, perpetuated by bad actors expl
 oiting online platforms and societal vulnerabilities. Cancer misinformatio
 n thrives on information asymmetry\, where creators hold an informational 
 advantage over their audience. Bad actors exploit this imbalance by distor
 ting facts and concealing critical context\, preying on knowledge gaps and
  fear and uncertainty following a diagnosis. Drawing from signalling theor
 y\, we will explore how misinformation creators mimic trustworthy signals 
 like expertise (e.g.\, impersonating professionals)\, consensus (e.g.\, fa
 ke reviews)\, and familiarity (e.g.\, mimicking reputable formats)\, manip
 ulating audiences into accepting their claims as credible. These individua
 ls and organisations manipulate trust\, emotions\, and gaps in knowledge\,
  fostering harmful behaviours and undermining public health efforts. Socia
 l media's monetisation systems incentivise engagement over accuracy\, perp
 etuating a vicious cycle of distrust in conventional medicine. Cancer misi
 nformation leads to devastating outcomes\, including delays in treatment\,
  financial exploitation\, and diminished trust in healthcare systems. Unde
 rstanding medical misinformation tactics and the structural mechanisms ena
 bling misinformation is critical to devising effective interventions that 
 address its root causes. This talk explores the roots\, proliferation\, an
 d impacts of cancer-related misinformation\, focusing on its mimicking of 
 trust signals\, dissemination through digital ecosystems\, and profound co
 nsequences for patients and caregivers.\n\nZoom link: \nhttps://cam-ac-uk.
 zoom.us/j/83142055830?pwd=tVRAsZyuo4LMFR0RinDBY8YHmpwqTY.1\n
LOCATION:Webinar & LT2\, Computer Laboratory\, William Gates Building.
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