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Digital World

The Democracy of the Gullible

May 29, 2020

Conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly on the Internet. And they find an audience that believes them. Scientists are studying why people have a tendency to believe nonsense is true.

Dokus KW27 | Democracy of the Gullible
Image: SHK

The Internet has profoundly changed our thinking in less than two decades. No other medium has manipulated human behavior to such an extent. The Internet can be a blessing - but also a curse. Many people give the same weight to unfiltered and unfounded opinions on the Internet as they do to journalistic content that has been checked for its accuracy.

Inspired by Gérald Bronner's bestseller "The Democracy of the Gullible,” the film examines our brains’ natural predisposition to believe in enigmatic conspiracy myths. What criteria and patterns are behind them? And if the brain is so easily influenced, do facts and knowledge stand any chance against blind faith?

 

Broadcasting Hours:

DW English

THU 01.10.2020 – 01:15 UTC
THU 01.10.2020 – 05:15 UTC
FRI 02.10.2020 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 03.10.2020 – 19:15 UTC
SUN 04.10.2020 – 02:15 UTC

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3

DW Deutsch+

FRI 02.10.2020 – 09:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3 

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