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Fact-Checking with SIFT: Information Disorder

Misinformation or Disinformation?

As you move through these definitions related to false information, you go from low to high in terms of intent to harm: 

Misinformation: Incorrect or misleading information-- unintentional mistakes such as inaccurate photo captions, dates, statistics, translations, or when satire is taken seriously.

Disinformation: False information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth, including fabricated or deliberately manipulated audio/visual content. Intentionally created conspiracy theories or rumors.

Malinformation: Genuine information is shared to cause harm, often by moving information designed to stay private into the public sphere. Deliberate change of context, date or time of genuine content.  

Source: Merriam-Webster.com and FirstDraft

7 Types of Dis & misinformation

Source: FirstDraft

Native Advertising

Native Advertising :  Also called sponsored content, this type of advertising matches the form and function of the platform upon which it appears, but is actually paid ad content.

Clickbait

Clickbait :  Sensational content (such as a headline) designed to encourage the viewer to follow a link under false pretenses to information of dubious value.

 

False Connection/Hoax

Hoax: to trick into believing or accepting as genuine something false and often preposterous

Satire or Parody

Satire: trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

Propaganda

Propaganda: ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause