39. How a Blog's Misinformation Influences Public Opinion in Australia
In Australia, a group of people, influenced by a popular blog that dismisses climate change, organizes a large rally against environmental regulations. The blog, run by a self-proclaimed expert, uses manipulated data to support their claims, leading followers to disregard scientific consensus.
Individual outcomes
Followers like 35-year-old Jake, a rally organizer in Sydney, contribute to spreading misinformation, leading to misguided public opinion and policy.
Societal outcomes
Societally, this hampers efforts to address climate change effectively and promotes scientific illiteracy, reduces trust in media and official sources of information, and, in the extreme, may raise risk of social unrest.
Competences involved in this scenario:
Social systems affected by this scenario:
D5. AI tools and disinformation
S2. Fact-checking
Scientific Communities
Environmental Agencies
Media