Why did we stop caring about disinformation? | Skylar Hughes | TEDxDuke
What happens when lying no longer shocks us and dishonesty become normal? In this eye-opening talk, Skylar Hughes, a journalist and psychological researcher, explores why our outrage at fake news has faded and what that means for democracy. Hughes reveals how repeated exposure to lies changes our brains, shifts our social norms, and threatens our moral compass. Skylar Hughes is a Robertson Scholar at Duke University, combining psychological research with frontline experience in combating misinformation. As part of CNN's fact-checking unit, she verified over 100 articles, broadcast packages, and scripts, serving on the Republican National Convention live fact-checking team. Her expertise extends to the Poynter Institute, where her content reached over 150,000 people.A Kenan Ethics Fellow, Hughes has explored the moral dimensions of misinformation and digital communication. At Duke’s Marsh Memory Lab, she secured grant funding to lead experimental research on misinformation correction. Her interdisciplinary work provides critical insight into how misinformation shapes society.Skylar believes accurate information is a right, not a privilege. Upon graduation, she aims to merge her experience in journalism and psychological research to study misinformation’s impact in the 21st century. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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