iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Nothing says US FIMI like bullying other governments into withdrawing sponsorship for a conference that discusses US FIMI. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

theguardian.com

EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request

Lithuania and Canada were also pressured to withdraw, and days before #Disinfo2026, logos were wiped off website

05324

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Another exceptional opportunity at Cambridge! The university is looking to appoint the first Dean of the Rokos School of Government. This presents a unique opportunity to shape the vision and direction of a major new academic institution. Apply here www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/foundin...

cam.ac.uk

Founding Dean of the Rokos School of Government and Rokos Professorship of Government

The University of Cambridge is seeking an exceptional academic leader to become the founding Dean of the Rokos School of Government, alongside appointment to the Rokos Professorship of Government. Thi...

172

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Jon Simons @jonsimons.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The advert for the Hatton Professorship of Sustainability is now out. A fantastic opportunity for someone with expertise in social psychology, behavioural science, etc, to help address the greatest threat of our age. Please share with anyone who might be interested! www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/hatton-...

cam.ac.uk

Hatton Professorship of Sustainability

The Board of Electors to the Hatton Professorship of Sustainability invite applications for this Professorship from persons whose work falls within the general field of the Professorship (combining be...

0712

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Cambridge University is hiring a Professor who combines behavioural science & sustainability research (eg psychology, social neuroscience, behavioural economics, consumer behaviour, political science, policy studies, and environmental social sciences). www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/hatton-...

cam.ac.uk

Hatton Professorship of Sustainability

1105

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Fantastic opportunity at Cambridge! Come join us as the Hatton Professor of Sustainability. We're looking for a word-leading behavioural scientist or experimentalist to lead behavior change research on sustainability. Apply ✔️https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/hatton-professorship-of-sustainability-la50727

cam.ac.uk

Hatton Professorship of Sustainability

054

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Most state attorneys general released Meta from Cambridge Analytica-related claims as part of the child safety settlement. New Mexico wasn't part of that deal, and a jury there just found 26 of 29 past claims about Cambridge Analytica, hate speech and misinformation willfully deceptive.

techpolicy.press

Eight Years On, Cambridge Analytica Scandal Catches Up With Meta in Santa Fe

A jury found that Meta—then Facebook—misled the public in statements about Cambridge Analytica and its policies on hate speech, violence and misinformation.

9918293

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Pleasure talking to @itvnews.bsky.social this evening about the Prime Minister's announcement of a new Centre for Information Defence and the threat of foreign propaganda, as well as an example of me being duped by an AI fake. Nobody is immune!

0132

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Dr David Robert Grimes @drg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Self-described healer Barbara O'Neill is banned from giving health advice in her native Australia, but is booked for lucrative events in UK & Ireland next month. Health misinformation kills: we've written to venues elucidating why O'Neill's health fictions harm vulnerable patients ⏬

12511

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Naomi Oreskes @naomioreskes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Do you study disinformation? Now there is a peer-reviewed journal, dedicated to understanding it. journals.sagepub.com/home/DIN

journals.sagepub.com

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

26924

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Honour to be elected a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) 🙏 this year & congratulations to all the other Fellows & Prize Winners as well! 🎉 Check out the full list: spsp.org/news/spsp-ne...

171

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Good to see UK announcing a new National Centre for Information Defence to guard against *foreign* propaganda. Of course, immediate "Ministry of Truth" framing. U.S. Global Engagement Center (GEC) eventually succumbed to such false narratives, let's do better here. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

UK to fight Russian disinformation and push new global AI standards, Burnham says

The UK could act as "an honest broker" on AI and other global challenges, the prime minister tells world leaders at the UN.

093

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Why do white men become white nationalists? Interesting new empirical results in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

ere we show with three national surveys of non-Hispanic white adults (conducted from 2021 to 2025) that support for white nationalism is (1) higher among white people encountering personal hardship and local social distress, consistent with strain theories3,16; (2) unrelated to local racial composition or recent demographic change, complicating status threat accounts4,17,18; and (3) elevated among white people with close friendships primarily online, consistent with theories of extremism driven by online mobilization7,10,19.

6388154

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Cool new paper on cognitive inoculation: Does inoculation improve discernment of real-world misinformation headlines? (not just lab items) ✔️Yes! Does misinfo contain more manipulation? ✔️Yes! Side effects: Does it cause undue skepticism or cynicism? ✔️No! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Does protection come at a cost? A random stimuli approach to investigating the (side-)effects of misinformation inoculations

Inoculation – an intervention aimed at informing people of the threat of misinformation and the strategies used to spread it – is an increasingly popu…

1142

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Chokely Carmichael🥋 @stewartcoles.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

UW-Madison professor engages in multiple sexual relationships with students, disparages another over their sexual orientation and appearance, creates hostile environment, and department leadership covers it all up. And in true “pass the trash” fashion, moves on to ASU once forced to resign.

captimes.com

UW-Madison students, records detail investigation of professor

Dietram Scheufele resigned after investigators determined he had sexual relationships with two students and engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct with one.

281104370

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Jonathan Jarry @jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

This should be a bombshell in the world of science communication. Dietram Scheufele and Dominique Brossard are big names, and the allegations here are nauseating and revolting. 🧵 captimes.com/news/educati...

captimes.com

UW-Madison students, records detail investigation of professor

Dietram Scheufele resigned after investigators determined he had sexual relationships with two students and engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct with one.

512042

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Max Falkenberg @maxfalken.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Is the world getting more polarized? The polarization of the U.S. is worrying. But is polarization similarly bad elsewhere? What drives polarization globally, what role does social media play, and will AI make things worse? New review in @nature.com communications: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

33617

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

"What has fundamentally changed is the emergence of the information age (the internet, social media, AI) and its integration into, and domination over, our contemporary political discourse." Needed: a globally equitable understanding of political polarization www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Toward an integrated and globally equitable understanding of political polarization - Nature Communications

Nearly half of all polarization research focuses on the United States, yet many American findings are global outliers. A globally equitable understanding requires bridging traditional social science w...

23618

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

New study tested whether Bad News game can protect adolescents from disinformation about migration! ✅ Disinfo about migration can shape early attitudes toward minority communities ✅ The game reduced the credibility of disinfo & boosted truth discernment onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

01811

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Many colleagues think bans are ineffective, counterproductive, and deflect away from tech platform and executive accountability for derivative harms.

79220

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Hackenburg’s paper is the latest in a string of studies showing the power of AI to sway people. “It’s a whole new field that is emerging,” says @profsanderlinden.bsky.social. “People are very interested in the persuasive powers of AI, I think, both for ethical and unethical reasons”🧪 In @science.org

science.org

AI chatbots are becoming experts at changing people's minds. What's their secret?

ChatGPT and other AIs use a flood of facts, and the occasional lie, to persuade humans

611076

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk · 21/08/2026

How is the way we connect changing in a world increasingly shaped by online communities & algorithms? @profsanderlinden.bsky.social & Marion Hoffman explore how digital spaces influence social cues, opinions, trust, decision-making & the way we understand each other. 🎧https://pod.fo/e/4ec503

094

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I think that’s probably part of the investigation!

010

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A professor writes: (Jason Stanley) The problem is that journalists failed to do basic journalism. Not a single reporter seems to have checked’ Jason Arday’s citations. The ‘quantifiable metrics’ of his work. Prof Stanley did: ‘Arday is easily comparable to the leading scholars in the field’

6126801064

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I wouldn't call it disinfo either, unless it's intentional, I'd classify doom more as 'misleading' info, tho I suppose that can be part of misinfo as a broader category. I think the crux of it is that saying 'there's nothing that can be done' is false but otherwise totally agree with your points.

000

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · 18/08/2026

Misinformation outpaces fact-checkers, and AI makes deception cheap. This #RSOS study shows how the same #AI can inoculate against #misinformation: doi.org/10.1098/rsos... @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social @profsanderlinden.bsky.social

1114

Reposted by Sander van der Linden

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Plenty to reflect about re: the Arday affair, but I'm going to repeat this one thing. The playbook the right used here is effective even though it's not especially sophisticated, as it relies on the audience to do the dirty work. I've been calling it "Trojan horse propaganda", let's go with that. 1/

5763102016

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I agree that scientists are often cautious and conservative but the media aren’t. Remember XR famously claimed 6 billion people would die of climate change by end of century.

110

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Ha you got there before me but yes! Emotions aren’t bad only when they are used in a way that significantly departs from the underlying science.

050

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Thank you for this scathing review - always refreshing. I see I'm in good company with @doctorvive.bsky.social

120

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yes absolutely, I like Mike Mann's perspective that we can convey all the serious factual and harmful realities using science-based communication without having to resort to emotional manipulation and potentially unrealistic extreme portrayals that send people into maladaptive panics.

241

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

So this combination typically gives....horrific (emotion)....all going to live under water (extreme)....no way back (fatalism). It may be true that one of the headlines is stronger or weaker on any of the three dimensions (not claiming it was all perfect) but much more than just negative emotions.

010

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

You're welcome just want to clear up any confusion. It was a little more complex than that, so what was altered were three things (1) scaremongering/fear, (2) extremity, & (3) fatalism so they differed on multiple dimensions, i.e., but for doom those three were added consistently in conjunction.

110

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yes agreed, we have a media piece about it coming up I'm going to see if I can clarify this to make sure it's not misinterpreted. Agree fear messaging can be a different thing in and of itself too. Thanks!

140

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

How are we misusing doom? We reference to scholarly literature on doom and operationize stimuli accordingly. Do share your thoughts.

100

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yes in hindsight maybe not ideal description - I think we had a long para in the original draft that got edited down for brevity but maybe should have made the multi-dimensional nature clearer!

150

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Had to be extremely brief re theory for the PNAS brief report format.

010

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yes indeed correct & the headlines & treatment we tested never use only one of those ingredients I think that’s part of the false characterisation of the OG tweet. I do see now that maybe we should have been clearer in the definition, we do ref to papers that make this clear in the same para but

110

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

But I wouldn’t claim CDR alone is sufficient, I think I’ve said numerous times we need a strong combination of CDR and emissions reductions. The biophysical limit to emissions reductions is much less of a concern.

000

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Fear appeals or scaremongering are one of three major ingredients of climate doom; extremity/exaggerate, overly scary language, and claim inevitability/nothing can be done.

130

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Ps I agree it’s important that anti-doom research isn’t weaponized by industry to support inaction. Kinda like the nuanced social media-kids debate, we can say that the evidence of harm on kids is complex but we need to be careful not to let SM companies off the hook for harms or weaponize that.

010

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yes so that’s not how I’d define doom. I mean warming can be reduced & *some* climate impacts can be reversed in the most optimistic scenario, some can’t, but CDR alone isn’t going to cut it - clearly we need steep co2 reductions too. Doom says nothing can be done or reversed, and that’s not true.

210

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I mean I agree if you take economic, political, and social feasibility conditions into account and I imagine we need a strong combination of removal and emission reductions at any rate (not just CDR) but the hopeful part is that these factors are open to change if we can mobilise it.

100

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Ha yes well we did mellow it down a little bit otherwise the test would be too easy and I can see nitpicking about some stimuli it’s hard to isolate 100% but most of them are pretty hardcore doom in my view!

110

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

But the point is that these deaths can be limited, some even prevented, they are not inevitable. It’s because of the gross neglect and global inaction on climate change not because there’s nothing that can be done. So much can be done to prevent deaths.

151