Misinformation

Misinformation

  • What is misinformation?
Misinformation is false, inaccurate or misleading information that is communicated regardless of an intention to deceive. Disinformation is a subset of misinformation that is deliberately deceptive.
  • Misinformation is Social media
Social media can contribute to the spread of misinformation when users share information without first checking the legitimacy of the information they have found.

Social Media platforms offer the perfect background for the spread of misinformation. The exact sharing and motivation behind why misinformation spreads through social media so easily remain unknown. A 2018 study of twitter determined that, compared to the accurate information, false information spread significantly faster, further, deeper and more broadly.

Misinformation thrives in a social media landscape frequently used and spread by college students. This can be supported by scholars such as Ghost and Scott, who indicated that misinformation is "becoming unstoppable".

There is an spontaneous misinformation on social media that usually occurs from users sharing posts from friends or other mutual followers. These posts are often shared from someone the sharer believes they can trust.
  • Insulating ourselves from Misinformation
  1. Never share a post on social media without fact checking
  2. Look for the sources
  3. Consider the story's agenda
  4. Don't discount stories that play to emotions, but view them with caution.

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