So far, Birdwatch users appear to be motivated as much by politics as by truth, said [Prof.] David Rand.

"Recent initiatives suggest that platforms may be able to channel partisan motivations to democratise moderation."

Prof. David Rand was named to the 2023 Thinkers50 Radar Class, an annual list that honors 30 people who are expected to make an impact.

"Americans are more receptive to information that challenges their party leader's position than we had previously thought.”

"While there are legitimate concerns about the power of AI to spread disinformation, our paper shows how it can also be part of the solution."

"I was most surprised by how big, and how durable, the effect of the debunking was."

A discussion of political polarization, misinformation, and how digital platforms can either foster constructive dialogue or deepen the divide.

"Narrowly defined 'fake news' - style misinformation is only a very small part of what causes misbelief."

"Disasters are ripe for conspiracy theories because there is a lot of uncertainty as things are unfolding and a lot of fear."

Messaging based on a single characteristic — like party affiliation — can increase persuasion "by up to 70 per cent."