Češi jsou zase v něčem nejlepší! - Spiknutí #98

Summary

In this video, Patrik Korenář discusses a study by over 20 scientists examining why people trust certain disinformation across 19 countries. The research focuses on two specific Russian disinformation claims about Ukraine and the US, revealing that conspiracy thinking is the strongest predictor of belief in disinformation, regardless of age, gender, education, or media consumption. The Czech Republic notably leads in this aspect. The study also explores the impact of social media, political cynicism, and the public's perception of information warfare, with varying beliefs across different countries.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses a study examining why people believe in certain dezinformaton narratives.
• 🌐 The study involved over 20 scientists and collected data from 19 countries.
• 📊 It focused on two specific Russian disinformation claims that have been widely debunked.
• 📚 The research is available for free in an open-access format, encouraging public access and understanding.
• 🧐 The study found that conspiracy thinking is the biggest predictor of believing in disinformation, regardless of other factors like age, gender, or media consumption.
• 🇨🇿 Czech Republic stands out with a high predisposition to conspiracy thinking, making its population more susceptible to disinformation.
• 📈 The study showed that different countries have different levels of belief in disinformation, with Serbia having a notably high percentage of believers.
• 📱 Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, were found to be a significant factor in the spread of disinformation.
• 📊 The study revealed that the perception of an information war varies greatly among different countries, with some believing it's a Western construct rather than a Russian one.
• 📉 The research highlighted the importance of addressing disinformation and conspiracy theories, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is a discussion about a study examining how people trust and are influenced by certain disinformation across 19 countries, with a focus on Czech audiences and their susceptibility to Russian disinformation.

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker in the video script is Patrik Korenář, who introduces himself and welcomes viewers to another episode of his show.

What are the two specific disinformation claims that the study focuses on?

The two specific disinformation claims focused on in the study are: 1) That the Ukrainian government is anti-Semitic and controlled by neo-Nazis, and 2) That the United States is financing biological weapons research in Ukraine.

What does the term 'conspiracy thinking' refer to in the context of the video?

In the context of the video, 'conspiracy thinking' refers to a predisposition to see patterns and conspiracies where there are none, which is associated with a higher likelihood of believing in disinformation.

What did the study find about the role of media diet in relation to believing disinformation?

The study found that the predisposition to believe disinformation significantly varies by country, which makes sense given the different cultural and political environments and media operations in each country.

What was the surprising finding regarding 'conspiracy thinking' and its impact on believing disinformation?

The surprising finding was that 'conspiracy thinking' was the biggest predictor for believing disinformation, outweighing all other factors such as age, gender, education, and media consumption habits.

What was the position of the Czech Republic in terms of believing disinformation according to the study?

The Czech Republic was near the top, ranking fourth out of the 19 countries, with a significant percentage of people believing in the disinformation narratives presented.

What was the study's conclusion about the impact of social media, specifically Facebook, on the belief in disinformation?

The study concluded that people who primarily get their information from Facebook have a higher propensity to believe disinformation, with Greeks being the most affected and Czechs ranking second or third.

What was the mistake made by the researchers in the study?

The researchers mistakenly included Slovakia in the list of countries included in the study when it was actually not, and they also potentially overestimated the impact of social media on the spread of disinformation by not accounting for 'conspiracy thinking'.

What is the additional finding from the Central European Digital Media Observatory about the perception of information warfare?

The additional finding was that 20% of people think the information warfare has no impact, 39% believe it's a field where Russia operates, and 41% think it's an excuse by Western governments to limit freedom of speech.

What is the speaker's final message regarding the importance of these studies?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of these studies because they provide much-needed data about Central Europe, which can help responsible politicians understand the issues and formulate informed laws and communications strategies.