Delete That Meme: How Education Consultants Are Saving The US Dream

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The Psychology of Fake News: Why We Believe & Share Misinformation

Ever shared a viral post and then found out it wasn’t true? You’re not alone. The real question is: why did it feel true in the first place? 

The answer lies in our psychology. Misinformation doesn’t spread just because it's out there. It spreads because our brains are wired in ways that make us want to believe it. And it turns out, the answer lies deep in the quirks of how we think, feel, and connect with others.

Imagine seeing two headlines: 

“Using your phone before bed is harmful.” 
“Scrolling late at night boosts creativity.” 

Chances are, you’ll click on the one that fits what you already believe. That’s confirmation bias in action. 

It’s your brain’s way of saying, “This feels right because I already think it’s true.” But what feels true isn’t always factual. Confirmation bias leads us to like, share, or believe information that aligns with our existing opinions and ignore anything that contradicts them. It’s how misinformation gets a head start.

Find out more as Titha Ghosh breaks it down for you.

DECODE

Delete That Meme: How Education Consultants Are Saving The American Dream

Rozy Eflaz, co-founder of Invest4Edu, a student advisory firm, told Hera Rizwan they’ve been coaching students on how to manage their online presence. "We tell them to avoid resharing unverified content or posting anything impulsively," she said, adding that a “self-audit of digital behaviour is now a must” especially for students whose coursework involves personal branding or social projects. 

Context: The US Embassy in India announced that all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas, covering academic students, vocational learners, and exchange visitors, would now be required to make their social media accounts public. What was once a quiet background check became front and centre scrutiny. 

Question remains: For education consultancies, this policy shift has meant a complete overhaul of their advisory services. They've become informal helplines for panicked students and parents, fielding the same question repeatedly: is studying in the US still worth it?

EXPLAINED

Delhi Is About To Try Something That Sounds Like Science Fiction

• Delhi plans first-ever cloud seeding to reduce air pollution by triggering artificial rain. The experiment, led by IIT Kanpur and IMD, is now scheduled for late August. 

• Experts told Hera Rizwan it’s no magic fix. Rain may reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels briefly, but pollution typically returns unless root sources are addressed. 

• Cloud seeding success depends on perfect conditions, including moisture-heavy clouds and strong upward air currents. Pollution itself may reduce the chances of success.

THE LIE COUNT

Iran-Israel Conflict Drives Misinformation Surge In June 2025: BOOM Report

The conflict between Israel and Iran that escalated on June 13 was the most fact-checked topic in June. 

In all, BOOM published 92 fact-checks across English, Hindi, and Bangla. Of these, 35% (32 fact-checks) focused on the Israel-Iran conflict, followed by 11% (10 fact-checks) related to the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash. 

Meanwhile, misreporting by mainstream media outlets peaked in June 2025, with BOOM publishing 10 fact-checks on false or misleading claims reported by media outlets.

'FAKE NEWS’ YOU ALMOST FELL FOR

🔍 Several Indian media outlets misreported that United Arab Emirates (UAE) is issuing a Golden Visa to Indians by charging a fee of AED 1,00,000, about ₹23 lakh. Read 🔗 Archis Chowdhury’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A purported video of Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaking with Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad where he admits to India losing three Rafale fighter jets in the recent clash with Pakistan is manipulated. 🔗 Srijit Das ↗️ debunked the claim.

🔍 Did Congress hand out sanitary pads with Rahul Gandhi’s photo inside? 🔗 Shefali Srivastava ↗️ tells you the truth.

🅱️ RECOMMENDS

This week's recommendation is: Commentary: Why We’re Moving Beyond “Misinformation” and “Disinformation”

Verified By Boom is written by Divya Chandra, edited by Adrija Bose and designed by H Shiva Roy Chowdhury.

If you have suggestions about this newsletter or want us to conduct workshops on specific topics, drop us a line at 👉 [email protected] and we will get back to you in a jiffy. Thanks for reading. See you next week.👋

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