Propagandists are already working to sow disinformation and social discord<\/a> in the run-up to the November elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of their efforts have focused on social media, where people\u2019s limited attention spans push them to share items before even reading them<\/a> \u2013 in part because people react emotionally, not logically<\/a>, to information they come across. That\u2019s especially true when the topic confirms what a person already believes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s tempting to blame bots and trolls for these problems. But really it\u2019s our own fault<\/a> for sharing so widely. Research has confirmed that lies spread faster than truth<\/a> \u2013 mainly because lies are not bound to the same rules as truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a psychological scientist who studies propaganda, here is what I tell my friends, students and colleagues about what to watch out for. That way, they can protect themselves \u2013 and each other \u2013 from lies, half-truths and misleading spins on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n