Can we inoculate society against misinformation?
In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with Professor Sander Vanderlinden — social psychologist at the University of Cambridge and author of Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity — to take on Bad Idea #20: “Misinformation is just people being wrong on the internet.”
They explore how false and misleading information spreads, why even credible institutions sometimes get things wrong, and what we can do to build mental immunity.
From fake news to populism, pandemics to AI, this conversation dives deep into the psychology, politics, and future of truth itself.
🧠 Topics Discussed:
● 🧩 What counts as “misinformation” — and why intent matters
● 🧠 How our brains are wired to believe and share bad information
● 🧾 The difference between misinformation and disinformation
● 🌡️ COVID-19, lab leaks, and how science self-corrects
● 📺 The weaponization of “fake news” and authoritarian censorship
● 🧍♀️ Why polarization and inequality make us more vulnerable to lies
● 📱 How social media algorithms reward outrage and extremism
● 🤖 AI, deepfakes, and the next frontier of disinformation
● 💡 Prebunking and “psychological inoculation” — how to fight back
● 🧘 The power of intellectual humility and open-minded thinking
👨🏫 Guest Bio:
Professor Sander Vanderlinden is Professor of Social Psychology in Society at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab. His research explores the psychology of misinformation, polarization, and belief formation. He authored the bestselling book Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity (2023) and co-authored The Psychology of Misinformation (2024). His work has been featured by the WHO, the UN, and major media worldwide.
📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:
● Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708295/foolproof-by-sander-van-der-linden/
● The Psychology of Misinformation – https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/psychology-of-misinformation/2FF48C2E201E138959A7CF0D01F22D84
● Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab – https://www.sdmlab.psychol.cam.ac.uk/
● Inoculation Science Project – https://inoculation.science
● Bad News Game –https://www.sdmlab.psychol.cam.ac.uk/research/bad-news-game
● Go Viral! Game (WHO x Cambridge) – https://www.who.int/news/item/23-09-2021-what-is-go-viral ● Cranky Uncle Game (by John Cook) – https://crankyuncle.com/game/
● “Climate Endgame” (PNAS, 2022) – https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2108146119
● European Digital Services Act – https://prighter.com/digital-governance/eu-dsa/
● UK Online Safety Act – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer
💬 Quote Highlights:
“Misinformation isn’t just about being wrong — it’s about being misled.” — Sander Vanderlinden
“Science can make mistakes, but it self-corrects. Disinformation never does.”
“Populism feeds off distrust. Once institutions lose credibility, facts don’t matter anymore.”
“We’ve known for thousands of years what misleading rhetoric looks like — Aristotle warned us about it.”
“You can’t fact-check your way out of this crisis. We need to inoculate minds, not just correct them.”
🌐 About WePlanet:
WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement challenging bad ideas and championing evidence-based solutions for climate, nature, and human development. Learn more at https://weplanet.org
📥 Join the Conversation:
Feedback or questions?
Email: podcast@weplanet.org
Subscribe to new episodes:https://weplanet.org/podcast
Follow us on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/weplanetint
