Your Guide to Mis- and Disinformation

Lilly McGee  7/12/2021

Mis- and dis-information are two of the most insidious tools used to undermine our democracy and the value of every person’s voice. Learn how to recognize them and stop them in their tracks. 

What Are Mis- and Disinformation? 

Misinformation: inadvertently sharing false information without the intent to harm 
Ex. Your sister says that the latest local bill will raise taxes because that’s what she heard from a trusted friend. 
Disinformation: intentionally sharing false information with the intent to harm 
Ex. Your sister lies that the latest local bill will raises taxes because she knows that’s the only way you won’t support it. 
While disinformation may seem like the worse of the two, it’s frighteningly easy to spread misinformation. Remember the game “telephone” and how it shows that our messages get distorted over time? Every day, we play telephone in our face-to-face conversations, over social media, and more, with important political information. 

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