WEBINAR: Think Critically, Spotting the Signals of Disinformation
- TITAN
- Dec 5
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
If you missed our latest TITAN webinar, Think Critically: Spotting the Signals of Disinformation, the full replay is now available to watch online.
Watch the webinar here: https://youtu.be/yJ9J9sPqT8k
In an era where misinformation travels faster than facts, learning how to recognise manipulation has become an essential skill for citizens, educators, and anyone navigating the digital world. This webinar brings together experts from NCSR-Demokritos, VRT, and ENGINEERING to unpack the tactics behind disinformation, and show how TITAN’s Socratic AI coach can help people reason more effectively.
Why This Webinar Matters
We live in a time where information is abundant, but attention is scarce. False narratives can spread effortlessly, shaping opinions before we even pause to think. The goal of this webinar was to slow things down and empower viewers with practical tools to analyse online content more critically.
Through real examples, live demonstrations, and guided reflection, the speakers explore:
How disinformation works
What signals to watch for
Why emotions play such a powerful role
How reflective dialogue builds resilience
How TITAN uses Socratic questioning to help people reason for themselves
What You’ll Learn
1. Why disinformation is a growing challenge
Moderator Massimo Magaldi (ENGINEERING) opens the session by explaining why critical thinking and media literacy are becoming essential democratic skills, and how TITAN supports them.
2. The key signals of disinformation
Dr. Panos Kapetanakis (NCSR-Demokritos) breaks down the most common manipulation tactics, including:
Emotional triggers
False authority
Bias and selective reporting
Cherry-picking evidence
He also shows real-world examples that illustrate how subtle—and effective—these tactics can be.
3. TITAN demo: Socratic dialogue in action
Tim Van Lier (VRT) gives a live demonstration of the TITAN AI Coach, showing how the system guides users to think through claims, reflect on evidence, and question assumptions.
He also discusses inoculation theory, the idea that exposing people to weakened examples of misinformation can help them build immunity to stronger forms later on.
The session concludes with a look at the EDUbox: Critical Thinking resource, now available in English for educators.
Q&A: Can AI really help us think better?
The webinar ends with a thoughtful discussion on:
how TITAN differs from fact-checkers
the limits of AI in supporting reasoning
how structured environments (schools, NGOs, communities) can benefit
the importance of slowing down before reacting online
The takeaway? Critical thinking is not about knowing the answer, it's about learning to ask better questions.
Watch the webinar here: https://youtu.be/yJ9J9sPqT8k
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