Ideas Are Contagious: Why Not to Amplify Bad Ideas
Inspired by the book The Tipping Point of Malcolm Gladwell
The definition of “contagious” implies that your contagious idea affects others and is likely to spread fast and wide.
Why it’s wise not to amplify or spread bad ideas
Bad ideas can cause harm
Some ideas can lead to negative consequences for people and society.
Amplifying misinformation, hateful ideologies, or dangerous conspiracies risks those ideas gaining traction and manifesting real-world harm.
Amplifying bad ideas often has the unintended effect of exposing more people to those ideas needlessly.
This can inadvertently help fringe narratives gain an audience they may not have reached.
When bad ideas receive widespread amplification, it can make it harder to separate fact from fiction and productive dialogue becomes more difficult.
This is not good for the overall quality of information in the public sphere.
Those promulgating bad ideas may feel emboldened and validated if their ideas get outsized amplification and attention, even if the intent is to criticize or refute them.
