Research Guides: Disinformation and Misinformation: Home

Disinformation and misinformation are both terms for false or misleading information. Disinformation refers to false information that is spread intentionally; misinformation refers to false information that is spread regardless of an intent to deceive. The two terms are often used interchangeably, and functionally, there is little difference between the two: they are both inaccurate or deceptive information. Misinformation and disinformation are not new phenomena, but they are becoming more sophisticated and harder to identify. Today's fractured information landscape and rapidly developing technologies like generative artificial intelligence allow false information to spread more quickly and widely than ever before.

As a Dominican institution, Caldwell University is dedicated to pursuing the truth through education. As members of Caldwell's community and global citizens, it is important for us to be thoughtful in the way we consume, evaluate, and share information. This guide provides resources to help you stay informed, understand why false information is so common and pernicious, and identify ways that you can help stop its spread!

Misinformation & Disinformation: What are they?

Misinformation: Not on purpose!	Disinformation: On purpose.
Definition: Misinformation is any incorrect information that is shared regardless of an intent to deceive. The person sharing it probably thinks it's true.	Definition: Disinformation is false or misleading information shared with an intent to mislead, confuse, or deceive people.
How and why does it happen? Anyone can share misinformation accidentally, whether verbally or online. Regular internet users might see disinformation and assume it's true, or they may misremember details about factual reporting. If they share it, they spread misinformation. Being careful and critical about information you share can help reduce the spread of misinformation.	How and why does it happen? Disinformation is created on purpose by people with an agenda. Often this agenda is political or social, but there are also examples of disinformation being introduced as a prank. Social media algorithms reward clicks and attention. Bad actors who create disinformation can take advantage of this, especially if they have money for ads. Once the disinformation is out there, anyone who believes it might share it, helping it spread and even go viral.
Examples: You hear a news story from a reputable source but don't remember the details and get some facts wrong when retelling the story to a friend. Your aunt shares a meme with made-up statistics on Facebook and inadvertently spreads false information. Your friend reads a headline from The Onion but doesn't realize it's satirical and tells other people that a fake event really happened.	Examples: A political candidate wants to make his opponent look bad, so he makes up false quotes and attributes them to his opponent. In order to sell a product, an advertiser claims that it can do things it can't. An organization with a political agenda uses misleading or skewed statistics to make a problem or situation seem especially dire.

Misinformation: Not on purpose!

Disinformation: On purpose.

Definition:

Misinformation is any incorrect information that is shared regardless of an intent to deceive. The person sharing it probably thinks it's true.

Definition:

Disinformation is false or misleading information shared with an intent to mislead, confuse, or deceive people.

How and why does it happen?

Anyone can share misinformation accidentally, whether verbally or online.

Regular internet users might see disinformation and assume it's true, or they may misremember details about factual reporting. If they share it, they spread misinformation. Being careful and critical about information you share can help reduce the spread of misinformation.

How and why does it happen?

Disinformation is created on purpose by people with an agenda. Often this agenda is political or social, but there are also examples of disinformation being introduced as a prank.

Social media algorithms reward clicks and attention. Bad actors who create disinformation can take advantage of this, especially if they have money for ads. Once the disinformation is out there, anyone who believes it might share it, helping it spread and even go viral.

Examples:

You hear a news story from a reputable source but don't remember the details and get some facts wrong when retelling the story to a friend.
Your aunt shares a meme with made-up statistics on Facebook and inadvertently spreads false information.
Your friend reads a headline from The Onion but doesn't realize it's satirical and tells other people that a fake event really happened.

Examples:

A political candidate wants to make his opponent look bad, so he makes up false quotes and attributes them to his opponent.
In order to sell a product, an advertiser claims that it can do things it can't.
An organization with a political agenda uses misleading or skewed statistics to make a problem or situation seem especially dire.

Learn More

The vocabulary of disinformation
From The Economist, an explainer of key terms to help you understand what disinformation looks like today and how it functions.
Reality Check newsletter
From NewsGuard, a Substack newsletter that focuses on how online misinformation is undermining trust—and who’s behind it. Updates frequently and talks about specific instances of misinformation in real time. Read online or subscribe to receive updates by email.
Once a Sheriff’s Deputy in Florida, Now a Source of Disinformation From Russia
A New York Times article about a former Florida deputy sheriff who moved to Moscow and now works in support of Russia's efforts to sow discord among Americans by creating and spreading false information.

Credit

This page was originally created by Phoebe Duke-Mosier and was most recently updated in December 2024.