Know the Difference Between “disinformation” and “disinformation”
In recent years, we have become accustomed to living with inaccurate and completely fake information on social media and in the news. And with our current president refusing to recognize the election – citing unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud – and as the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine draws near (hopefully), it’s time to resist the onslaught of disinformation and misinformation again. And it’s important to know the difference because they are not the same thing.
Remember how long ago we still tried to get used to calling a lie “a lie”? In the past, oh, four years, we have learned to say it the way it is: a lie is not an inaccuracy, dishonesty, exaggeration or distortion of the truth. This is a knowingly false statement. You lie with the intent to deceive, and intent is everything when it comes to distinguishing a false statement from a lie.
It’s the same with misinformation and misinformation , which have two different meanings.
Disinformation
According to Merriam-Webster, disinformation is “false or misleading information.” This is the “hyped” version of the lie. Whether intent or not, misinformation is incorrect or inaccurate information that leads to misinformation of people .
Disinformation
Misinformation is more sinister. It is “false information that is deliberately and often secretly disseminated (for example, by spreading rumors) to influence public opinion or hide the truth, ” says Merriam-Webster .
As we navigate what could be a rocky presidential transition and an ongoing pandemic, here are mnemonic devices to help you remember the difference: Mis’s information is mis- leading. Disinformation is a damn lie.
This article was originally published in 2019 and was updated on November 9, 2020 to reflect current information and context.