Prebunking Manipulation Techniques: False Dichotomies

What is a false dichotomy? A false dichotomy (or false dilemma) is a logical fallacy in which a limited number of choices or sides are presented as mutually inclusive, when in reality more options are available. It’s also known as the “either-or fallacy”. How to be sure it’s a false dichotomy? - Two alternatives are presented as the only available choices - These alternatives are not actually mutually exclusive -The fact that other reasonable options are available is concealed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Truth Labs for Education is a collaboration between Cambridge University, the University of Bristol, and Google Jigsaw. We created a series of short videos designed to help people resist unwanted persuasion online. The videos are rooted in a framework from social psychology called inoculation theory, which posits that by exposing people to a weakened dose of a persuasive argument or technique and pre-emptively refuting it, they develop psychological resistance against future manipulative persuasion attempts. We created 5 videos, each of which “inoculates” people against a particular manipulation technique or misleading rhetorical device commonly encountered online: ad hominem attacks, using emotional language to evoke fear or outrage, false dichotomies, incoherence, and scapegoating. Visit for more information.