SYNOPSIS
Rachel and Dan talk to Dr. Adam Ratner, author of the new book Booster Shots, about the misinformation he encounters as a pediatric infectious disease specialist. We discuss the distinctions between vaccine hesitancy and being anti-vax, and how misinformation has an impact beyond individual healthcare. Dan uses the discussion to highlight a new “lens” called double-tagging, and Rachel is inspired to establish the lens “frenzy.”
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STORIES OF DISINFORMATION
The Fifth Column
Rachel describes how the US used the fictional threat of a “fifth column” to bolster their argument for Japanese internment camps.
Reciprocal Tariffs
Dan highlights some of the more subtle and insidious misinformation about Trump’s tariffs.
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INTERVIEW WITH DR ADAM RATNER
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LENSES
Double-tagging
Seemingly innocuous labels can be turned into misinformation by applying them in a way that is technically accurate, but twists the meaning of the label. Tagging anti-vax information with the label “vaccines” is misleading, and undermines the integrity of the system.
Frenzy
Information systems have a responsibility to help users understand what’s truly important and/or urgent. Systems must avoid contributing to the frenzy of information.
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Personnel
Music
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Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid
Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design
