Anatomy of an effective debunking

Bringing all the different threads together, an effective debunking requires:

• Core facts—a refutation should emphasise the facts, not the myth. Present only key facts to avoid an Overkill Backfire Effect;

• Explicit  warnings—before any mention of a myth, text or visual cues should warn that the upcoming information is false;

• Alternative  explanation—any gaps left by the debunking need to be filled. This may be achieved by providing an alternative causal explanation for why the myth is wrong and, optionally, why the misinformers promoted the myth in the first place;

• Graphics – core facts should be displayed graphically if possible.