Brigham and Women’s Hospital
The Robert G. Fenley Writing Awards: General Staff Writing
Silver
“Truth, Lies, or Marketing” explores how health misinformation circulates in the age of social media, its real-world impact on patient behavior and decision-making, and how people can protect themselves and combat its spread.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
Hearing from readers and colleagues that this piece prompted them to rethink their social media habits and helped them identify misinformation more easily. I certainly felt that way after speaking with the experts featured in this piece, so I was excited others felt similarly.
What is one thing you learned from your entry/experience?
I was surprised to learn the many ways social media and misinformation play off our emotions and the natural cognitive biases we use to process information. It can feel frustrating to fall victim to misinformation, so I was relieved to learn how social media and misinformation are designed to exploit these psychological tendencies. I also felt empowered to learn how to better recognize questionable content, and grateful to share my learnings with readers.
Contact: Joy Howard
jhoward6@bwh.harvard.edu