Loughborough University and Opinium partner to study misinformation

The research centre launched in March to study the impact of social media on the spread of misinformation, disinformation and the rise of hate speech and incivility.

Opinium will support the CDT in conducting its research as part of the long-term partnership.

Dr Emily Dickinson, director at Opinium (pictured), will join the CDT advisory board, alongside Julie Elliott MP and representatives from Demos, Facebook, the Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, the Social Media and Political Participation Lab (SMaPP) at New York University and Georgetown University.

Professor Andrew Chadwick, director of the CDT said: “There is a profound need for evidence, analysis, and creative ways of improving the health of our online civic culture. Our partnership with Opinium will enable research that shapes the next generation of scholarship and public knowledge in this crucially important area.”   

Dickinson said: “As a society we are facing fundamental questions about the use and influence of social media on our behaviour, culture and beliefs. We are therefore delighted to have this opportunity to partner with Loughborough University to answer what we believe represent some of the most pressing and important issues of our time.”