Professors Discuss How Social Media Can Spread Misinformation During Global Crisis

Kevin Wallsten, professor of political science, and Stephanie Hartzell, assistant professor in communication studies, recently spoke with the Long Beach Post about how fast inaccurate information can spread on social media after a global crisis.

They say the publics desire for quick information often causes misinformation to spread on social media before accurate details can be provided.

Wallsten and Hartzell examined how the conflict in the Middle East recently impacted how misinformation quickly began to spread after a deadly car crash in  Long Beach.