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Mr. Sparkle

(3,442 posts)
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:11 AM Apr 24

Americans Believe Russian Disinformation 'To Alarming Degree'

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Lasher (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Forbes

A third of Americans have fallen for Russian disinformation — and for other false online claims. A national YouGov survey commissioned by news rating firm NewsGuard presented 1,000 respondents with 10 false claims that have spread widely online, including three that originated from or were mainly spread by Russian media outlets.

And, the researchers found, Americans believe Kremlin disinformation to an alarming degree — along with other false claims relating to health and medicine, elections and international conflicts. Indeed, of the 10 claims presented, 78% of respondents believed at least one, and fewer than 1 in 100 managed to correctly identify all 10 claims as false. A quarter believed, for example, that up to half the U.S. aid money given to Ukraine was stolen by Ukrainian officials for personal use. More than half incorrectly thought that Ukraine sold Hamas weapons that had been donated by the U.S.

Meanwhile, fewer than half of respondents correctly identified as false the claim that COVID-19 vaccines have killed between 7.3 and 15 million people worldwide, while 1 in 5 said they believed the claim to be true. The claims were made on the basis of numbers described as arbitrary by experts, and not based on any research.

"The false narrative is based on an inaccurate analysis of deaths reported after Covid vaccination to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, a U.S. government database that collects unverified reports of adverse reports following vaccination," said NewsGuard. "The analysis was conducted by Edward Dowd, a former portfolio manager for investment management company BlackRock, who has no medical background and has previously made false claims about Covid-19 vaccines."

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2025/04/22/americans-believe-russian-disinformation-to-alarming-degree/

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Americans Believe Russian Disinformation 'To Alarming Degree' (Original Post) Mr. Sparkle Apr 24 OP
Excuse me Forbes!?!? AKwannabe Apr 24 #1
Because they are fabulously stupid. Basso8vb Apr 24 #2
And American media ain't very accurate either. progressoid Apr 24 #3
Everyone needs to take into account DENVERPOPS Apr 24 #11
I logged out of Google for a while and when I went to YouTube progressoid Apr 24 #14
I watch a lot of Meidas BidenRocks Apr 24 #16
Many Americans are dumber than my pet rock. republianmushroom Apr 24 #4
TRUMP has declared in many rallies DENVERPOPS Apr 24 #12
Dumbing America started BidenRocks Apr 24 #19
I have an old friend who I dearly love who has fallen for Russian misinformation that is washed through.. Botany Apr 24 #5
How else would you explain the Republicans and some Democrats Buddyzbuddy Apr 24 #6
From the article: "Belief in false claims cuts across party lines" Ponietz Apr 24 #7
This is news? SupportSanity Apr 24 #8
Those who believe it, want to believe it. nt Jit423 Apr 24 #9
Anyone DENVERPOPS Apr 24 #10
Second paragraph in the article has this link: markodochartaigh Apr 24 #20
when there is no reality, anything is possible stillcool Apr 24 #13
How is this a surprise if they already believe Trump. Make up lies, put them in history books and make children believe twodogsbarking Apr 24 #15
Several decades of training by Rush Limbaugh, FOX News, and the rest of the RW media has its effect JHB Apr 24 #17
This saddens me mountain grammy Apr 24 #18
Locking. Lasher Apr 24 #21

AKwannabe

(6,796 posts)
1. Excuse me Forbes!?!?
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:24 AM
Apr 24

You forgot the word STUPID at the beginning of yo title!

STUPID Americans Believe Russian Disinformation 'To Alarming Degree

Fixed it for ya!

Basso8vb

(1,112 posts)
2. Because they are fabulously stupid.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:27 AM
Apr 24

progressoid

(51,461 posts)
3. And American media ain't very accurate either.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:32 AM
Apr 24

DENVERPOPS

(12,542 posts)
11. Everyone needs to take into account
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:21 PM
Apr 24

most every thing in the U.S. Mainstream Media is, at a minimum, right wing tainted.......

95+% of all media in the U.S. is owned/operated by the Uber Rich Republican Oligarchs, or by Corporations that are owned operated by Republicans.......

Coming soon to the U.S. Citizens, ONE *STATE OWNED MEDIA*, JUST LIKE IN RUSSIA. FORMERLY PRAVDA........
FOX "NEWS" ALREADY COMES FRIGHTFULLY CLOSE TO THAT, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES.....

progressoid

(51,461 posts)
14. I logged out of Google for a while and when I went to YouTube
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:31 PM
Apr 24

I saw what the average viewer gets in their feed. There was so much outright lies and AI generated bullshit. It was stunning.

BidenRocks

(1,610 posts)
16. I watch a lot of Meidas
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:52 PM
Apr 24

I can't handle the unchallenged lies on rtcnn, rtmsnbc, rtfox etc.
Truth in advertising.

republianmushroom

(20,175 posts)
4. Many Americans are dumber than my pet rock.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:34 AM
Apr 24

DENVERPOPS

(12,542 posts)
12. TRUMP has declared in many rallies
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:23 PM
Apr 24

that the "loves the un-educated"..........And that is specifically why the Republicans and Trump want to OBLITERATE public education.

BidenRocks

(1,610 posts)
19. Dumbing America started
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 01:07 PM
Apr 24

When we allowed Texas to determine what's in the school books. This was decades in the making.
Watch when Jimmy Kimmel goes to Hollywood Blvd and asks the most basic questions about people, politics or geography.
Most don't know the basics.
Canadians, Europeans and even Mexicans know more about America. We really quit trying and it shows.
There is no American pride. Shouting USA makes you a showoff and it means nothing except "In your face!"
We are the Ugly Americans. It starts in school,
America really needs DEI. Call it human relations like they used to. We have no class. We are the bullies.
Manners and courtesy are missing also. Look at chump. Or not.

Botany

(74,384 posts)
5. I have an old friend who I dearly love who has fallen for Russian misinformation that is washed through..
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:36 AM
Apr 24

…. right wing web sites.

Did you know that men especially white men are under attack?

Russia’s new propaganda/disinformation organization is called Storm 15-16 and it
is wickedly good at stirring up social and civil unrest. One of its techniques is put
out patiently false memes that get people like DUers upset and trying to explain to
the people who soak up the lies and they become hardened in their positions.

Buddyzbuddy

(1,003 posts)
6. How else would you explain the Republicans and some Democrats
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:37 AM
Apr 24

voting in the tens of millions for the Felon and against their own best interests.
Stupidity meet gullibility.

Between the red states demolition of education, the manipulation of the faithful and desperation of the economically disadvantaged, it's no wonder we didn't get here sooner.
They will be the first to go if another pandemic hits. As evidenced by the measles outbreak.
My response on election day was, "stupid, stupid, STUPID, WTF!!!!" For about 2 hours.

Ponietz

(3,872 posts)
7. From the article: "Belief in false claims cuts across party lines"
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:49 AM
Apr 24

Democrats aren’t immune to it. I see it every day here. The best way to fight Goebbels isn’t more Goebbels — it’s more Edward R. Murrow. Musk didn’t rig the election and the assassination attempts weren’t staged. Aliens didn’t build the pyramids.

SupportSanity

(1,447 posts)
8. This is news?
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:56 AM
Apr 24

News would be that a high percentage was were able to recognize TRUE claims.

If you're not able to recognize truth, it's all lies isn't it?

Jit423

(1,402 posts)
9. Those who believe it, want to believe it. nt
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:03 PM
Apr 24

DENVERPOPS

(12,542 posts)
10. Anyone
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:16 PM
Apr 24

know where the list of items can be found??????

markodochartaigh

(3,011 posts)
20. Second paragraph in the article has this link:
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 01:09 PM
Apr 24

stillcool

(34,039 posts)
13. when there is no reality, anything is possible
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:27 PM
Apr 24

truth is a chameleon. There is so little that I believe. It's gotten me reading philosophy in a different light.

twodogsbarking

(13,928 posts)
15. How is this a surprise if they already believe Trump. Make up lies, put them in history books and make children believe
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:48 PM
Apr 24

them so they can do the same thing to the next generation. Quite successful so far but upsetting.

JHB

(37,729 posts)
17. Several decades of training by Rush Limbaugh, FOX News, and the rest of the RW media has its effect
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 12:58 PM
Apr 24

"We're telling it like it is, giving you the real deal, the lying liberal media is just lying to you because they think you're a bunch of chumps that will submit to their radical agenda!"

mountain grammy

(27,866 posts)
18. This saddens me
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 01:01 PM
Apr 24

No hope for humanity.

Lasher

(28,918 posts)
21. Locking.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 01:25 PM
Apr 24

This is analysis/opinion.

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