Imagine there’s a cold going around your office and you really want to avoid getting sick. Over the years, you’ve heard people say that taking Vitamin C can help, so you stock up on some tasty orange-flavored Vitamin C gummies. You later find out there’s no evidence that Vitamin C prevents colds, but you decide to keep taking the gummies anyway. This is a perfect example of what’s called the “illusory truth effect” — when we hear the same false information repeated again and again and come to believe it’s true. The illusory truth effect can be seen in advertising, political messaging, and the spread of fake news online. It’s often stronger when information is presented as a fact rather than an opinion, and when the source is perceived as credible. To avoid falling victim to the illusory truth effect, it’s crucial to cultivate critical thinking skills and actively challenge information. In short, fact-checking claims the first time you hear them will prevent you from becoming a victim of lies and misinformation.
