Social Lab: The Weaponization of Misinformation

In a time when facts are under attack and digital platforms are used to amplify both misinformation and hate, how do we — as truth-tellers, community leaders, and movement builders — reclaim the public square and amplify truth, accountability, and collective power?

Join us for a dynamic Social Lab examining The Weaponization of Misinformation — a timely and urgent conversation about how misinformation, disinformation, and deep political divides are reshaping our media landscape, and what that means for democracy, civic engagement, and community well-being.

This is not a panel — it’s a lab.
Expect small group dialogue, reflective practice, and a collaborative space to imagine how local media can lead with integrity, transparency, and care in the post-election era.

FREE EVENT, ALL ARE WELCOME

We’ll hear from some of Santa Barbara’s most influential media voices:

Starshine Roshell, award-winning journalist, journalism professor, and media literacy advocate, known for her sharp, unapologetic takes on gender, politics, and truth in the media.

Miriam Metzger, UCSB, Professor, Department of Communication, Center for Information Technology & Society. Her groundbreaking research explores how people assess the credibility of information online, making her a leading voice on the weaponization of misinformation in the digital age.

Hadeel Eljarrari, UCSB senior, contributor to Noozhawk, whose reporting on reproductive rights, local activism, and empowering future voters brings a powerful community-centered perspective.

Dr. Seth Geiger is President of SmithGeiger LLC, where he leads strategic research partnerships and innovation across media and tech. He has advised top brands including ABC, CNN, Google, DIRECTV, Microsoft, Discovery, and Visa.

What’s at stake:

• The safety of public discourse
• The safety and mental health of journalists and communities
• The trustworthiness of information
• The resilience of democracy itself
• The rising threat to dissent in the United States — including community activists being imprisoned, silenced, or exiled in other countries 

Together, we’ll ask:

• Who decides what counts as “free speech” when it’s used to harm?
  
• What is the responsibility of the media in an age of deep polarization?
  
• How do we protect truth while honoring diverse voices?