- Do you know the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
- How can either affect your workplace or life in your community?
Every day I pray that I can accept the truth no matter who or where it comes from. However, social media and entertainment “news” make it hard to discern. I have heard that on any given morning a lie can circle the globe before the truth has laced its shoes. People seem to thirst for drama and bad news. I guess it’s just human nature and unscrupulous information brokers are cashing in. That would be bad enough if the information were true. My grandmother used to say, “A half-truth is a whole lie”; in other words, misinformation and its cousin disinformation. Both give you enough truth so that people believe a lie. It appears that political parties or their affiliates, many businesses, and those in other walks of life are enticed to use them. When people use AI to misrepresent individuals or groups distortions can be magnified. Speaking of AI, I went there to get the definitions of misinformation and disinformation. Rather than paraphrase here are its definitions.
Misinformation and Disinformation are both related to false or misleading information but they differ primarily in their intent and context. Let’s break down the differences and similarities. Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread regardless of an intent to mislead. The key characteristic of misinformation is that it is not shared to cause harm or mislead others. The person sharing the information may believe it to be true or may not be aware of its inaccuracy. For example, sharing a news article that contains outdated or incorrect information. Forwarding a rumor or hearsay without verifying its authenticity. Even though the intent is not malicious, misinformation can still cause harm. It can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and the spread of false beliefs.
Disinformation refers to deliberate false or misleading information spread with the intent to deceive or mislead. Intent is the primary characteristic of disinformation, it is purposefully created and disseminated to influence public opinion, manipulate people, or achieve specific political or financial goals. Disinformation can have significant and often more harmful effects than misinformation. It can incite violence or cause social and political unrest. Disinformation is calculated and potentially more dangerous due to its malicious intent. Examples include fabricating news stories to sway public opinion during an election. Or, creating and spreading false information to damage someone’s reputation.
Understanding the distinction between misinformation and disinformation is crucial for addressing the challenges they pose particularly in the context of media literacy information verification and countering false narratives.
How can you avoid becoming a victim of misinformation or disinformation? If you are interested in learning more contact me at info@prodestinycoaching.com or visit my website: ProDestinyCoaching.com.