Stephan Lewandowsky
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lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky
@lewan.bsky.social
19K followers 1.8K following 4.6K posts

Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Bristol. Homepage: https://www.lewan.uk

Videos

Stephan Lewandowsky is an Australian psychologist. He has worked in both the United States and Australia, and is currently based at the University of Bristol, UK, where he is the chair of cognitive psychology at the School of Psychological Science. His research, which originally pertained to computer simulations of people's decision-making processes, recently has focused on the public's understanding of science and why people often embrace beliefs that are sharply at odds with scientific evidence. .. more

Neuroscience 23%
Sociology 19%
Posts Replies Media Videos

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 9h
This is coming up soon... Thursday this week 2pm UK / 3PM CET.
lewan.bsky.social Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 6d
We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratization. Scholars and researchers are among those in the firing line. How should they respond? We will provide hints & guidance in a webinar on 13 November for the European Geophysical Union:

You can register here:
How scientists can respond to autocratisation
<p>We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratisation, in which science is increasingly under politically-motivated attack. This webinar will provide an overview of how scientists can respond and safeguard their work. The webinar will last for 1.5 hours with time for audience Q&amp;A. This webinar is based on The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: developed by an international group of researchers, led by psychologist and disinformation expert Stephan Lewandowsky, the handbook serves as a call to action, a toolbox, and a survival guide for scholars in politically hostile environments.</p><p>Please register for this online event using the link at the bottom of the webpage.</p>
www.egu.eu

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 10h
Ah. This will be the SA (with ICE being the SS). Or is it the other way round? All so very confusing. How could anyone detect signs of fascism in this mess? Maybe there is nothing to see here.

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

dietram.bsky.social
Dietram A. Scheufele @dietram.bsky.social · 11h
"It’s all hallucination, but we only call it that when we notice it’s wrong. The problem is, large language models are so good at what they do that what they make up looks right most of the time."

#AI #hallucination #information #ecologies
Why does AI hallucinate?
The tendency to make things up is holding chatbots back. But that’s just what they do.
www.technologyreview.com

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

mlauriat.bsky.social
Marilyn 🇨🇦 @mlauriat.bsky.social · 11h
www.rawstory.com/stewart-rhod...
Convicted Oath Keepers' founder announces militia's relaunch to enforce Trump orders
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes announced he was relaunching the right-wing militia group in hopes that President Donald Trump would press them into duty.Rhodes was released from prison earlier th...
www.rawstory.com

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 15h
*this*. there is no end to the tabloids' and fascists' demands because they have nothing other than those demands -- there is no "program" and no "opinion" other than rage. The only end is the one put to it by reasonable people while there is still a chance.

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 15h
I added my voice to this petition which is simply to demand that platforms uphold the law. For some peculiar reason they don't seem to be keen.
Demand the Data: What’s Really Going Viral? | Mozilla Foundation
Social media platforms aren’t sharing what goes viral on their sites. Tell YouTube, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X to disclose their most-viewed content. Sign now.
www.mozillafoundation.org

Reposted by Martin McKee, Dorothy Bishop, Stephan Lewandowsky , and 9 more

jessicaelgot.bsky.social
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 18h
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Steve Peers

philippmarkolin.bsky.social
Philipp Markolin @philippmarkolin.bsky.social · 2d
New:
The current “AI race” media frenzy, whether framed as productivity revolution, Chinese competition, or AGI salvation, is either largely myth-making or missing the most crucial point.

So let me challenge that frenzy with a different story.

1/
open.substack.com/pub/protagon...
The AI Race to Reboot Feudalism
Let's be honest about why they gamble everything
open.substack.com

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 2d
watch it here: here: http://youtube.com/w...
2/2
Resisting misinformation - Thinking Matters
A short documentary introducing how misinformation spreads, how prejudice and bias get reinforced, why it feels so unstoppable and what works to counter it. Key Points - Misinformation appeals to emotion to drive clicks, shares and attitude change. Disinformation and deepfakes scale quickly through
youtube.com

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 2d
Great snappy documentary (12 minutes) about misinformation by the Expedition team www.joinexpeditions.... 1/2

1/2
Explore the library of knowledge
Meet the world's best researchers. Enjoy conversations with leading academics, scientists and thinkers. From climate change to genetics, from AI to feminism, from economic growth to the exoplanets, discover the issues that matter to them, to us and to the world.
www.joinexpeditions.com

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

doctorvive.bsky.social
Dr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 2d
This is absolutely the best thing I’ve ever read about elite news-media bothsiderism, as well the relationship between knowledge-production and journalism.

It’s also filled w gossip and so human!

10/10

lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Like so many other bits of Times coverage, the whole of the piece is structured as an orchestrated encounter. Some people say this; however, others say this. It's so offhand you can think you're gazing through a pane of glass. Only when you stand a little closer, or when circumstances make you a little less blinkered, do you notice the fact which then becomes blinding and finally crazymaking, which is just that there is zero, less than zero, stress put on the relation between those two "sides," or their histories, or their sponsors, or their relative evidentiary authority, or any of it. Instead, what you get is a piece making the various more or less bovine noises of studious grey-lady impartiality, with the labor of anything resembling "appraisal" surgically excised.

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 2 more

sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 3d
Laurence Fox is never again going to be able to threaten to sue anybody for calling him, an increasingly overt racist, racist

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Joe R. Feagin, Philip Nel , and 8 more

anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 3d
Hundreds of thousands of people, dead because of a decision made by the world's richest man

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Brigitte Nerlich, Alison Phipps , and 2 more

georgemonbiot.bsky.social
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 3d
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.

Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Stephen M. Walt, Michael E. Mann , and 68 more

newyorker.com
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 4d
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Euan G. Ritchie, Steve Peers , and 1 more

mrjamesob.bsky.social
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 4d
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Jan W. Mueller, Dorothy Bishop , and 27 more

iandunt.bsky.social
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 4d
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.

news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 4d
Great thread. Don’t wake the dead
georgemonbiot.bsky.social George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 4d
1. The approach of mainstream Democrats is summed up in this astonishing February advice from the Democratic strategist James Carville:
“Roll over and play dead. Allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight and make the American people miss us.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
🧵
Opinion | James Carville: It’s Time for a Daring Political Maneuver, Democrats
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

georgemonbiot.bsky.social
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 4d
1. The approach of mainstream Democrats is summed up in this astonishing February advice from the Democratic strategist James Carville:
“Roll over and play dead. Allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight and make the American people miss us.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
🧵
Opinion | James Carville: It’s Time for a Daring Political Maneuver, Democrats
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Mark Rubin, Calvin K. Lai , and 1 more

jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 5d
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%

Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)

The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

lesleyabravanel.bsky.social
Lesley Abravanel🥂🪩 @lesleyabravanel.bsky.social · 5d
Trump Dreams of Bringing Orwellian Nightmare to Life: Similar vanity projects sprouted up in Nazi Germany, in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, in Orban’s Hungary, and in many other countries that have fallen into the clutches of totalitarian leaders. sfreporter.com/columns/lett...
Trump Dreams of Bringing Orwellian Nightmare to Life
White House Ballroom demolition, Triumphal Arch are a tribute to Big Orange
sfreporter.com

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 6d
We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratization. Scholars and researchers are among those in the firing line. How should they respond? We will provide hints & guidance in a webinar on 13 November for the European Geophysical Union:

You can register here:
How scientists can respond to autocratisation
<p>We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratisation, in which science is increasingly under politically-motivated attack. This webinar will provide an overview of how scientists can respond and safeguard their work. The webinar will last for 1.5 hours with time for audience Q&amp;A. This webinar is based on The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: developed by an international group of researchers, led by psychologist and disinformation expert Stephan Lewandowsky, the handbook serves as a call to action, a toolbox, and a survival guide for scholars in politically hostile environments.</p><p>Please register for this online event using the link at the bottom of the webpage.</p>
www.egu.eu

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Andrew Scott, Tom Griffin , and 1 more

davidgura.bsky.social
David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · 7d
“There are some people who hate London, and hate New York,” Mayor Sadiq Khan told me, on Bloomberg TV. “There's a reason why they demonize London, and now, indeed, New York. Why? Because we are progressive cities. We are liberal cities. We are multicultural cities. And we are incredibly successful.”

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Gary Sheffield

eddavey.libdems.org.uk
Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 7d
It’s clear to anyone paying attention that Farage gets an easy ride from the media. They give him as much airtime as he wants but never hold him to account for the damage he’s done.

So much of what’s broken in Britain is thanks to Nigel Farage.

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 7d
There is an email address. I am assuming that’s the place to go.

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky

najabentzen.bsky.social
Naja Bentzen @najabentzen.bsky.social · 7d
As pressures on democracy and our infosphere continue to grow, the role of scientists is increasingly politicised and at risk.

@egu.eu's webinar on 13 November, featuring @lewan.bsky.social, offers an overview of how scientists can respond and safeguard their work.

www.egu.eu/webinars/646...
How scientists can respond to autocratisation
<p>We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratisation, in which science is increasingly under politically-motivated attack. This webinar will provide an overview of how scientists can res...
www.egu.eu

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 7d
We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratization. Scholars and researchers are among those in the firing line. How should they respond? We will provide some hints and guidance int his webinar on 13 November for the European Geophysical Union:
How scientists can respond to autocratisation
<p>We live in an era of democratic backsliding and autocratisation, in which science is increasingly under politically-motivated attack. This webinar will provide an overview of how scientists can respond and safeguard their work. The webinar will last for 1.5 hours with time for audience Q&amp;A. </p><p>Please register for this online event using the link at the bottom of the webpage.</p>
www.egu.eu

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Stephan Lewandowsky, Martin J. Attrill , and 6 more

michaelemann.bsky.social
Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 10d
Let me excerpt the concluding paragraph:
excerpt from linked commentary

lewan.bsky.social
Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 10d
Link doesn’t work for me. Is it me?

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, John Cook

ulliecker.bsky.social
Ullrich Ecker @ulliecker.bsky.social · 11d
Happy to share a new paper (accepted at J Environ Psych), led by the amazing @emilyspearing.bsky.social

Black Summer Arson: Examining the Impact of Climate Misinformation and Corrections on Reasoning

osf.io/preprints/ps...

@johnfocook.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social @profsanderlinden.bsky.social
OSF
osf.io