Rattibha

NEW: The American Psychological Association (APA) is mis/disinforming kids with its new kid's book, on mis/disinformation. 🧵/1
True or False? The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation

The APA engaged in a real-life conspiracy with the CIA to bolster Bush-era torture. Now its new children's book seeks to “prebunk” young readers from investigating conspiracy theories. It also misinforms kids on other topics including racism, gender, and the COVID-19 pandemic. /2

Lesson #1 COVID Doctors Never Lied
"During the COVID-19 pandemic," the book says, there was "seemingly conflicting information from scientists".
"Seemingly"? Ha! The messaging was completely contradictory. Trusted experts lied about masks, vaccines, & the virus's origin.

Instead of teaching kids to exercise critical thinking, when it comes to COVID-19, the book tells kids the experts did nothing wrong.
"[T]his was just how science works"!
The book then blames the spreading of false information and death on "friends and family". /4

Lesson #2 Don’t Ask Questions
Asking questions is a crucial step in the scientific process. But the book teaches kids to "beware" of questions.
"[D]isinformation can be spread just by asking a question…Especially if the person asking...can't even answer their own question!" /5

The book's example of such "disinformation" is a girl humbly asking a logical question:
"I'm not a scientist but why would we have all this snow if global warming was real?"
The book draws another kid reacting to the girl as if it's crazy to ask basic questions, "WHAT?!" /6

Lesson #3 Corporate Media is Good & Trusted!
Media gatekeepers are good and “trusted”! See the friendly gatekeeper man?
Only true information passes through the media gatekeeper gates! 😃
No mention that “newspapers and trusted news shows” can also spread disinformation. /7

Lesson #4 Only White People Can Be Racist!
The book only says "minority groups" and "people of color" can be victims of racism, omitting the obvious fact that white people can be negatively stereotyped and victims of racism too. /8

Lesson #5 "Some people say" = Research🤦‍♀️
Underneath the headline, “CHECK OUT THE RESEARCH”, the book shares no research but says Black lives are at risk in American workplaces because:
"Some Black people say...code-switching is necessary...simply to survive and keep safe..." /9

Lesson #6 Boys & Girls Aren't Different
The APA book's ex. of logical fallacy misleadingly suggests there's no athletic difference between boys and girls.
When asking kids why boys might play more team sports than girls, the book only mentions cultural reasons, not biology, which according to science (published by APA) also plays a strong factor.
/10

Lesson #7 Russia Russia Russia!
The “science” book also touches on foreign and domestic politics. Russia is the only country mentioned to spread disinformation, which gives kids the false impression that Russia's the only country that spreads disinformation. /11

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is painted only as a victim of disinformation, never a purveyor of it herself.
In reality, HC spread disinformation about Trump/Russia collusion, falsely accusing her political opponent of both treason and "stealing" an election in '16.
/12

Lesson #8 Only Wackos Criticize Government
The book directs kids to a government-funded online "disinformation" game: Bad News. Its creator Tilt Studio works with the US State Department, NATO, the EU, and the UK government. /13

According to the Bad News game, the first step to becoming a "disinformation and fake news tycoon" is making a public complaint about the government, such as, "This government is a complete and utter failure. #Resign! Losers!"
/14

Lesson #9 Conspiracies Aren't Real!
APA’s book also directs kids to a YouTube page whose 2nd most viewed video smears "conspiracy theorists" for believing COVID-19 originated in a lab—a belief now supported by "the experts" and overwhelming evidence.
/15

APA’s book dedicates five pages to villainizing “conspiracy theories” and suggests that merely ***learning*** about conspiracy theories "makes people think...that truth doesn't matter". /16

Of course, conspiracies do occur.
For example, after many denials, APA later apologized for secretly collaborating with the CIA on torture.
Maybe if this 🧵 is shared enough, APA will one day have to address all the misinformation it's spreading into the minds of children.
/17