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Fake News & Misinformation: Misinformation

What is Misinformation?

Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information.^[1] It is differentiated from disinformation, which is deliberately deceptive.^[2]^[3]^[4] Rumors are information not attributed to any particular source,^[5] and so are unreliable and often unverified, but can turn out to be either true or false. Even if later retracted, misinformation can continue to influence actions and memory.^[6] People may be more prone to believe misinformation because they are emotionally connected to what they are hearing or reading. The role of social media has made information readily available to us at anytime, and it connects vast groups of people along with their information at one time.^[7] Advances in technology has impacted the way we communicate information and the way misinformation is spread.^[8] Misinformation has impacts on our societies' ability to receive information which then influences our communities, politics, and medical field.^[7] Courtesy of Wikipedia

Experiment on YouTube reveals potential to 'inoculate' users against misinformation (Video 1/3)

The 'Inoculation Science' animation covering emotional language. Emotions are powerful tools of persuasion. Research shows that using emotional words, especially ones that evoke negative emotions such as fear or outrage, increases the viral potential of social media content. This use of negative emotional words to manipulate is sometimes referred to as "fearmongering". Inoculation Science project

Experiment on YouTube reveals potential to 'inoculate' users against misinformation (Video 2/3)

In this video: Inoculation Science video covering scapegoating. Scapegoating is when a person or group is singled out or takes unwarranted blame for a particular problem. Scapegoating is commonly seen throughout history, but it remains common even today. Credit: Inoculation Science

Experiment on YouTube reveals potential to 'inoculate' users against misinformation (Video 3/3)

In this video: Inoculation Science video covering false dichotomies. A false dichotomy (or false dilemma) is a logical fallacy in which a limited number of choices or sides are presented as mutually inclusive, when in reality more options are available. It’s also known as the “either-or fallacy”. Credit: Inoculation Science

Links & Articles

Misinformation - Pew Research Center
Up to date articles on Misinformation.
Misinformation and disinformation - American Psychological Association
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead—intentionally making the misstating facts.
The News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. (Read our brochure or check out our FAQ)
The spreading of misinformation online - PNAS
The wide availability of user-provided content in online social media facilitates the aggregation of people around common interests, worldviews, and narratives. However, the World Wide Web is a fruitful environment for the massive diffusion of unverified rumors.
What is Checkology?
Checkology is a free e-learning platform with engaging, authoritative lessons on subjects like news media bias, misinformation, conspiratorial thinking and more.
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Learners develop the ability to identify credible information, seek out reliable sources and apply critical thinking skills to separate fact-based content from falsehoods.