Facebook’s recent announcement to stop fact-checking posts is an ominous signal.
It’s not just a corporate decision — it’s part of a societal crisis. At a time when conspiracy theories are spreading like wildfire and trust in institutions is at an all-time low, one of the most powerful companies on the planet is stepping back from its responsibility to fight misinformation.
Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement is put into context by The Atlantic’s recent piece, “The Internet Is Worse Than a Brainwashing Machine.” The warning signs are clear: The very platforms that connect billions of people are becoming pipelines of unchecked falsehoods.
Now it’s more important than ever for experts — particularly scientists — to step up.
In fact, scientists have an enormous opportunity right now to take on the role of fact-checkers themselves. Not as hired moderators for tech companies, but as the public’s most trusted guides in a dangerously polluted information ecosystem.
Why Scientists Should Fill the Void
For too long, many scientists have been reluctant communicators, preferring to let their research speak for itself. That may have worked in a pre-internet world. But today? Silence is a vacuum that misinformation rushes to fill.
If scientists don’t tell their own stories, someone else will. And that someone else might be a YouTuber with no scientific training or a Twitter account run by bots peddling conspiracies that spread swifter than peer-reviewed studies.
The truth is, scientists are uniquely positioned to cut through the noise. You have the knowledge, the rigor, and the credibility that the world desperately needs. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. The way you share it matters.
The public doesn’t want impenetrable jargon or a stack of citations. They want clarity. They want context. They want stories that help them understand how science affects their lives.
And they want those stories from you.
Scientists as Explainers-in-Chief
Meta’s decision to end fact-checking could leave a massive hole in the fight against misinformation. Scientists can help fill that void by becoming the Explainers-in-Chief in their fields — trusted voices who make complex topics accessible to the public and who show up in public conversations when it matters most.
Consider the case of climate science. We’re in the midst of a global crisis that demands urgent action. Yet climate misinformation still thrives online, undermining efforts to mobilize change.
Scientists who step into the role of public explainers — through blogs, videos, podcasts, or direct engagement with journalists — can help counter the false narratives out there by providing clear, relatable information.
It’s not enough to simply publish research. Scientists must get comfortable with engaging the public directly. They must view themselves as active participants in public discourse, whether that’s through writing opinion pieces, speaking at public forums, or participating in digital conversations where misinformation tends to spread.
Breaking the Silence
The days of waiting for someone else to translate scientific findings into plain language are over. Scientists must take responsibility for telling their own stories.
Think of yourself as a bridge. On one side, there’s a wealth of scientific knowledge. On the other side is a public that is overwhelmed by noise and uncertainty, looking for guidance. Your role is to make the connection.
This doesn’t mean abandoning rigor. It means recognizing that communication is part of the scientific process. It’s not an afterthought; it’s essential to ensuring that your work has an impact beyond the groves of academia.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some scientists learned this the hard way. When misinformation about vaccines and virus transmission began to spread, experts had to scramble to correct false narratives. The ones who were most effective were the ones who knew how to explain complex ideas clearly and empathetically.
They understood that fighting misinformation isn’t just about facts — it’s about storytelling.
The Danger of Staying Quiet
The stakes couldn’t be higher.
We’re heading into a volatile period, marked by the rise of generative AI and widespread political instability. It’s almost like a new business model has emerged: “Uncertainty-as-a-Service.”
If scientists don’t step up now to fill the gap left by Facebook’s retreat from fact-checking, the public is even more vulnerable to manipulation and disinformation on a massive scale.
It’s not just a matter of academic integrity. It’s a matter of safeguarding civilization itself.
A Call to Action for Scientists
If you’re a scientist, the message is clear: The time to act is now.
You don’t need a media team or a polished social presence to make an impact. What you need is a commitment to showing up. To being present in the public conversation. To being the person who can say, “Here’s what we know. Here’s what we don’t. And here’s why it matters.”
Whether you collaborate with fact-checking organizations, offer your expertise to journalists, or simply start writing for a broader audience, your voice can make a difference.
Meta may be stepping back from fact-checking, but you don’t have to. In fact, you can’t afford to. Because if we’ve learned anything from the past few years, it’s that the battle for deep understanding grounded on facts won’t be won by those who stay silent.
This post was originally published on here
