Online Parenting Communities Pulled Closer to Extreme Groups

A team of GW researchers led by Professor of Physics Neil Johnson revealed how dangerous misinformation has spread during the pandemic and why Facebook’s safeguards are not working.

January 12, 2022

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Previous research has shown that social media feeds the spread of misinformation. But exactly how that occurs has been unclear, leaving social media platforms struggling under the deluge of new material posted each day. Led by Professor of Physics  Neil Johnson, the research team set out to better understand how the Facebook machinery helps misinformation thrive and spread through the platform’s network of online communities.