8 | Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fact-Checking
Terms like misinformation and disinformation are often used interchangeably when discussing the spread of this content, but they actually mean different things. Understanding the distinctions between them, along with the role of fact-checking and verification, will lead to better digital literacy and is essential in navigating modern media.
Misinformation
Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate news that is spread without malicious intent. This type of misdirection manifests in many different forms: inaccurate photo captions, dates, statistics, translations, unverified rumors, mistakenly incorrect data, and even satire. This type of information spreads easily, often without anyone seeking to cause harm, but because they simply believe it to be true.
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For example, if an AI-generated image circulated on the Internet and individuals shared it because they thought it was real, that would constitute misinformation. The key factor is the lack of intent, where the person sharing it does not recognize or realize that what they're sharing is false.
Disinformation
Disinformation, on the other hand, is the intentional spread of false information to mislead or manipulate people. The spread of this information often has a goal: influencing public opinion, pushing a specific agenda or belief, shaping political narratives, provoking emotional responses, and starting conspiracy theories and rumors. This misdirection is often more strategic and manifests as falsified content such as altered data, deepfakes, edited images, manipulated audio or visuals, misleading captions, or AI-generated images designed to create certain impressions.
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Going back to the theoretical AI-generated image, if someone sent this out with a specific agenda or belief, that would constitute disinformation. The intent here is what distinguishes this example from misinformation, where someone is explicitly sending out something to garner attention and reactions.
Misinformation and Disinformation in Media: A Real World Example
A recent example that highlights the difference and overlap between misinformation and disinformation is the AI-generated image of Donald Trump depicted as a Christ-like figure. The image was posted on Orthodox Easter, shortly after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV.
The image features Trump dressed in robes, healing a sick man as individuals look up at him. Trump told reporters that the picture was him as a doctor, but many individuals interpreted this as Trump portraying himself as a divine figure. Later, social media outlets had to correct their initial interpretation, showing how ambiguous the image.
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The image combined several elements that made the content especially persuasive: religious symbolism, emotional appeal, and political identity. And the combination of these elements strongly influenced how viewers felt, even before they questioned whether the image was real or not.
Although the image itself was not real and was considered ambiguous, the distinction between misinformation and disinformation depends on who is sharing it and why.
Even though the image was AI-generated, it carried a clear message: portraying a political figure as someone with extraordinary, divine qualities. When an image like this is shared in a political or cultural context, especially around significant religious holidays, it can function as disinformation since it uses fabricated visuals, encourages a specific interpretation, and influences perception rather than presenting facts.
On the other hand, once the image spreads beyond its original source, individuals may not recognize that it's fabricated. They may interpret it literally, or share it without verification, and at that moment, the image becomes misinformation. The intent has shifted, not because the image changed, but because the audience did.
One reason why this example is especially useful is that it sits in a gray area. Public responses to the image included claims that it was misunderstood or not meant to depict a religious figure. Others saw this as a politically driven image seeking to push an agenda. So, while not explicitly misinformation or disinformation, this example shows where the two may overlap depending on how something is used and spread on the internet.
How to Avoid False Information
When looking at this recent example, we can see how prevalent false information is on social media. Because of this, audiences should fact-check information that may seem questionable or unreliable before fully forming an opinion on something. Whether that's finding the original source, cross-referencing with additional sources, checking for bias, examining the URLs of websites, or using fact-checking sites, audiences should be aware of how to defend themselves against both misinformation and disinformation. Following these steps will help users recognize what may be misleading them, provide them with answers on whether a source is credible, and even introduce different sources that provide a broader view of the issue being discussed.
Misinformation and disinformation shape how people understand the world. And while the main distinction lies in intent, it is incredibly important to remain connected to verified sources to stay factually informed about events. By being an informed social media user, audiences can stay involved and informed without falling into a false information trap.
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