During World War II in the U.S., rumors spread by Axis propagandists and ordinary citizens caused distrust, divisions, and harm. Frances Sweeney spearheaded a grassroots movement with “rumor clinics” in newspapers to debunk lies. The clinics collected and fact-checked rumors, promoting facts and unity. The government was mostly supportive, but some critics thought the clinics gave rumors too much attention. Rumors varied from sabotaging war efforts to attacking Eleanor Roosevelt. Studying the phenomenon, social scientists found that fear and wedge rumors divided society, with ambiguity fueling their spread. In today’s fragmented information landscape, combating misinformation remains a challenge.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/world-war-ii-rumor-clinics-helped-america-battle-wild-gossip-180983883/