Misinformation

Sometimes people share things that are not true.

These can be mistakes. This happens when people do not have all the facts.

Other times, people tell lies on purpose. They do this to trick others. This is called disinformation.

In the past, people used printed papers to spread news.

Long ago, a paper told a story about life on the moon. It was not true.

Today, many people use the internet. Social media helps news move very fast. This can make it easy to spread mistakes.

It is important to be careful. We can learn to find the truth.

People share many kinds of news. Sometimes, they share things that are not true. This is called misinformation.

Misinformation often happens by mistake. A person might not have all the facts. In 1948, a newspaper made a big error. It said Thomas E. Dewey won the U.S. election. But Harry S. Truman actually won.

Other times, people tell lies on purpose. This is called disinformation. They want to trick people.

In 1835, a paper told a fake story about the moon. It claimed there were creatures living there.

Today, the internet makes news move very fast. Social media helps stories spread quickly. This can make it easy to share false ideas. In 2016, many people saw "fake news" on social media. This can change how people think about medicine or politics. Some people even use false news to make money. It is important to look for the truth. We can study the facts to stay safe.

Information helps us understand our world. Sometimes, the information we find is not quite right. This is called misinformation.

Misinformation can be a mistake or a misunderstanding. It might be incomplete or even a half-truth. It often happens when people do not have all the facts yet. For example, scientific advice can change as we learn more. New parents might feel confused if sleep advice for babies changes over time. This is not always meant to trick anyone. It is just a part of how we learn new things.

There are other ways that information can be wrong. Disinformation is when people share lies on purpose. They do this to deceive or trick others. There is also something called malinformation. This is when true information is shared just to cause harm. Scholars use these different names to show why the information was shared. The intent of the person matters a lot. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. This is because the reason someone shares a story is not always clear.

False stories have been around for hundreds of years. In old Italy, people used witty verses to insult rivals. In France, printed papers called "canards" used drawings to look real.

During the summer of 1587, people in Europe were worried about the Spanish Armada. Agents spread reports of a Spanish victory to trick leaders. In 1835, a big lie called the Great Moon Hoax appeared in New York. It claimed there were bat-creatures and unicorns living on the moon. These stories show that people have always used news to influence others.

New technology changes how fast these stories move. In the 20th century, radio and television helped news spread quickly.

Today, social media like Facebook and X makes it even faster. A study on Twitter found that false info spreads much deeper than true info. During the 2016 U.S. election, untrustworthy websites reached many Americans. Misinformation can also affect our health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false stories about vaccines spread on social media. This made it harder for people to make safe choices about medicine.

Understanding these risks is a very important job. In 2024, the World Economic Forum called misinformation a major global risk. It can create divides between different groups of people. Some countries even use laws against misinformation to stop journalists from working. This can make it harder for people to speak freely. Researchers are now working on ways to find and fix these errors. They study why people believe things that are not true. Learning to check facts helps us stay connected to the real world.

Misinformation refers to incorrect or misleading information. It can include inaccurate, incomplete, or false details. It also covers selective information or "half-truths." This concept is vital because it influences beliefs about medicine, politics, and communities. In January 2024, the World Economic Forum identified misinformation and disinformation as severe global risks. They noted these issues can widen societal and political divides. Understanding how information travels helps us navigate the modern world.

Scholars distinguish between three specific types of information disorder. The first is misinformation, which is false information shared without malicious intent. This often happens due to errors, misunderstandings, or a lack of knowledge. The second is disinformation, which is deliberately deceptive. People or organizations create disinformation to actively mislead an audience. Disinformation can be partially fabricated, exaggerated, or taken out of context. The third type is malinformation, which is true information used to cause harm. An example is sharing a politician's private details to shape public opinion.

These different types of information work through various mechanisms. Disinformation can cause direct harm by deceiving people. It can also cause indirect harm by undermining trust in communication. Misinformation often arises during emerging situations where facts are not yet verified. For example, scientific guidance on infant sleep positions has changed over time. This evolution in understanding can create confusion for new parents. Even if a mistake is corrected, it can still influence memory and actions.

History shows that misinformation campaigns have existed for hundreds of years. In Imperial and Renaissance Italy, people used anonymous verses called pasquinades to insult rivals. In pre-revolutionary France, printed papers known as "canards" used engravings to appear credible. During the summer of 1587, agents spread false reports of a Spanish victory. They hoped to convince Pope Sixtus V to release promised funds.

The 1835 "Great Moon Hoax" was the first large-scale disinformation campaign in America. It used articles to claim that humanoid bat-creatures lived on the moon.

Advancements in technology have changed how information spreads. In the 20th century, radio, television, and newspapers were major vehicles for news. Television allowed disinformation to reach millions of people very quickly. This could reinforce existing biases and make corrections difficult.

Today, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X enable even faster sharing. A 2018 Twitter study found that false information spreads faster and deeper than accurate info. On Facebook, misinformation is also more likely to be clicked on than factual news.

Misinformation has significant impacts on public health and society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false stories about symptoms and treatments spread widely. This was made worse by a lack of health literacy. Some conspiracy theories, like the link between 5G and COVID-19, gained global traction. Research shows that vaccine misinformation lowered vaccination intent by 6.4% in the UK. It lowered intent by 2.4% in the US. Some creators even made money by posting false news to gain views and clicks.

Addressing misinformation also involves complex legal and political challenges. Some countries have created laws to combat disinformation. However, these policies can sometimes be used to restrict journalistic work. In some contexts, they limit political expression and reduce media freedom. This has even resulted in the imprisonment of editors and journalists. According to reports, the countries with the lowest media freedom in 2025 include Eritrea and North Korea. Understanding the balance between stopping lies and protecting speech is a major global task.