Matthew Facciani

Matthew Facciani, PhD

A social scientist studying why people believe what they believe — misinformation, media literacy, political polarization, and trust in science.

Social Scientist  ·  Author  ·  Science Communicator

About

Matthew Facciani is a social scientist and researcher at the Yale School of Public Health who studies why people believe what they believe. His work focuses on misinformation, media literacy, political polarization, and trust in science. He is the author of the award-winning book Misguided and creator of its companion podcast, newsletter, and media literacy tools — all designed to help people navigate today's complex information landscape.

An interdisciplinary scholar with a background in neuroscience and psychology and a PhD in sociology, he has held research positions at the University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, and Georgetown University.

Work
Misguided book cover
The Book
Misguided
Columbia University Press, 2025
Where misinformation starts, how it spreads, and what to do about it.
★ 2025 Choice Outstanding Academic Title ★ 2026 Nautilus Book Award
Newsletter
Misguided on Substack — writing on misinformation, science communication, and AI for 12,000+ readers.
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Podcast
Conversations on social psychology, trust, and how we process information.
Listen →
Media Literacy Tools
Free interactive tools for critical thinking, network diversity, and lateral reading.
Explore →
Google Scholar
Full list of peer-reviewed publications, citations, and academic work.
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Writing elsewhere

I write for Psychology Today and speak at national conferences on misinformation and science communication. Find me on Bluesky and Threads.