Check out this new series by Al Jazeera Untangles on the "war on truth". It looks at the transformative impact of mis and disinformation in the digital age. This episode, called "Why are lies thriving?", includes interviews with myself Hossein Derakhshan and Claire Wardle youtu.be/yw_PXvwgD7g?si…

How did an online conspiracy become an offline crisis? In 2025, false claims that bird flu was a hoax to sway the 2024 US election sparked fear and economic fallout. The War on Truth investigates the real-world impact of viral disinformation: aje.io/thewarontruth

Why do lies go viral? From flat Earth theories to claims of a stolen US election, MIT claims misinformation spreads online six times faster than fact. The War on Truth investigates: aje.io/thewarontruth

Why are we lonelier than ever in the age of constant connection? Connected and Alone explores how social media simulates intimacy and leaves us emotionally and physically isolated:  aje.io/connectedandal…

“The ability for governments to spread propaganda is now in our pocket,” Marc Owen Jones explains. From WWI to October 7, the propaganda themes persist—but new technology amplifies them. The War on Truth investigates: aje.io/thewarontruth

Is “consent” online really a choice — or just a legal illusion? Critics argue Big Tech’s consent model is deceptive, since rejecting data policies means losing access to modern life’s essential tools. The Privacy Paradox investigates: aje.io/privacyparadox

Why does the influencer dream so often end in burnout? Chasing likes and battling algorithms traps creators in a cycle where visibility comes at the cost of mental health. Brand Me investigates: aje.io/brandme

Why does a single notification feel impossible to ignore? Connected and Alone investigates how digital spaces exploit human psychology: aje.io/connectedalone

Who influences the influencers? Social media content today is dictated by machine learning and algorithms. Brand Me investigates: aje.io/brandme

Is your privacy up for sale online? From the US military buying data from Muslim prayer apps to brokers selling information on abortion clinic visits, the Privacy Paradox investigates: aje.io/privacyparadox

What happens when everyone lives in their own version of the truth? Academic Claire Wardle explains how ‘bespoke realities’ can trap us and why it’s important to break through divides. Watch The War on Truth: aje.io/thewarontruth

Can algorithms reshape our identities? Researcher Carl Miller explains how digital platforms can lead vulnerable users from mainstream interests to extremist communities. Watch Connected and Alone: aje.io/connectedalone

Senior Fellow at ICCL, Johnny Ryan, reveals how Russia was buying Google advertising data profiling opposition supporters, while Israeli company Patternz used advertising data to map people’s private lives. The Privacy Paradox investigates: aje.io/privacyparadox

“Their whole business model is farming people for their data,” Aral Balkan explains how platforms like Facebook and Google make a profit by renting endless access to our data to other companies. The Privacy Paradox investigates: aje.io/privacyparadox

What’s driving Gen Z to become social media influencers? Economic uncertainty and a craving for creative freedom have made influencing seem like the ultimate escape - but it comes at a cost. Brand Me investigates: aje.io/brandme