aka “Brandolini’s Law” (formulated by Italian programmer Alberto Brandolini
The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.
This principle highlights how misinformation, false/fake claims, or “BS” can be created quickly and spread easily, but debunking or correcting it requires much more effort, time, and resources.
Reality is complicated.
Correcting falsehoods is labor-intensive and slow.
It is easier to relate a simple lie than a complex truth.
Applications
- Media literacy and fact-checking.
- Social media moderation.
- Science communication and public discourse.