You have probably heard these terms, but do you know what they mean? And what is the difference between them?

What is the difference between these terms? Intent

Misinformation occurs when false or inaccurate information is shared without knowing its false or inaccurate. The person believes its true.

For example: (when spread the death of someone, and the person is alive and well)

Disinformation is when false or inaccurate information is spread intentionally to deceive people.

For example: Remember in the Lion King when Scar told Simba that he was the reason that Mufasa died? Scar knows that he caused Mufasa’s death but he spreads the lie to manipulate Simba and seize power.Scar spreads false information on purpose to deceive and control.

Malinformation are facts that are being used in a misleading way.  

The information is accurate, but the way it’s used is misleading or damaging.

For example:  When a person uses statistics to try to justify police violence against black people due to crime rates. Even though the full picture of the stats show that crimes are committed in proximity not by race  

How to Tell the Difference  

So how can you tell the difference between accurate information and fake news? Here are four ways to not get tricked.

1. Consider the source. Check credentials. Is this a familiar site? Who wrote it? Along with this who posted it? Does the person who reposted it share stories like this all of the time or have they been inactive for three months and now this pops up.

2. Look beyond the headline. Most headlines on social media are worded to be clickbait.  

3. Who does it support? Also, check the date. Many pages will add a clickbait title to an old article. Just get likes and engagement.

4. Lastly, check your own bias. Remember the algorithm knows all about you. Confirmation bias leads people to put more stock in information that confirms their beliefs and discount information that doesn’t.

Here is a bonus, don’t engage with trolls. Remember half of the internet are AI bots at this point.

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkwWcHekMdo&t=12s

How to Spot Fake News - FactCheck.org

https://naacp.org/resources/voter-disinformation-and-misinformation

Voter Disinformation and Misinformation | NAACP

https://www.c-span.org/clip/qa/free-speech-and-misinformation-disinformation-and-malinformation/5169629

Free Speech and Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation | Video | C-SPAN.org

https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/turns-dead-internet-theory-ai-201027433.html

Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet’s business model