Change the world Quote by Charles Seife
““Bad information is a disease that attacks the brain. It messes with your head, making you do things that you shouldn't, causing you to make wrong decisions. Just as a potent virus co-opts your cells' machinery, bad information can co-opt your behavior. It can alter the way you interact with the world and, as a result, it can change the world.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think, 2013
False information spreads like a virus, hijacking cognition and behavior.
In simple terms: Bad info corrupts thinking.
Key Takeaway
Critically evaluate information before acting.
Themes
misinformation
cognition
behavior
Mood
skeptical
alert
Type
educational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- media consumption
- decision making
- public policy
Key Concepts
information theory
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify sources?
- What safeguards can prevent misinformation spread?
A Different Perspective
Even accurate data can be misused.
![“Digital information has an unbelievably high R0 [basic reproductive rate], and this means that it's hard to stop once it emerges. It spreads from person to person - even those at a great distance - incredibly quickly, thanks to its high transmissibility and the high interconnectedness of digital…” quote by Charles Seife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08d/charles-seife-18021_quote_digital-information-has-an-unbelievably_744417.jpg)
