Why “misinformation and disinformation” has been identified as the leading global risk for the next two years.

In January 2024, the World Economic Forum released a report showing that fourteen hundred and ninety international experts rated “misinformation and disinformation” the leading global risk of the next two years, surpassing war, migration, and climatic catastrophe. Misinformation and disinformation are global threats because they can erode trust, manipulate public opinion, and undermine democratic processes while spreading rapidly through digital platforms, amplifying their impact and fueling social division. A thought-provoking New Yorker article highlights not only our societal acceptance of misinformation, but how we ‘chalk it up’ to human gullibility of those with opposing viewpoints.

Question of the Week:

Instead of dismissing alternative viewpoints, the New Yorker challenges us to instead think about the larger social forces that are driving the misinformation and disinformation phenomenon. In a world where everyone is entitled to their opinion, how do you build consensus?

We'll start → Find common ground through empathetic listening. Identify areas of shared beliefs and start there to help bridge the divide