A lot has happened since 1994, when David Mikkelson founded the fact-checking website Snopes, formerly known as the Urban Legends Reference Pages. It was great speaking with David to learn more about how the sharing of questionable content has evolved into something very sophisticated today.

Snopes started with investigating urban legends, hoaxes, and folklore. Founder David Mikkelson, later joined by his wife, was publishing online before most people were connected to the internet. As demand for reliable fact checks grew, so did Snopes. Now it’s the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion.

Tune in as we discuss this evolution of misinformation, and what needs to be done to stop its repercussions. I enjoy hearing David’s optimistic outlook for the future, the role of middle men, and the future of fact-checking.