Misinformation is false, inaccurate, or misleading information that is shared without the intention to deceive. It occurs when someone believes something is true and passes it along to others, even though the information is incorrect. Misinformation can take many forms, including false news stories, misleading social media posts, inaccurate statistics, and rumors. Unlike disinformation, which is deliberately created or spread to deceive people, misinformation is generally shared in good faith. However, both can influence public opinion, create confusion, and undermine trust in reliable information.
Imagine scrolling through social media and seeing a post claiming that a new law has passed. The post looks legitimate, and it was shared by a friend you trust. Believing the information is accurate, you repost it to your followers.
There's just one problem: the law never passed.
You've now spread misinformation, even though you had no intention of misleading anyone.
Pauline Hoffman, an infodemiologist and author of Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories, explains that people often spread misinformation simply because they trust the source from which they received it.
The important distinction is that someone can spread false information without knowing it is false. In fact, anyone can unintentionally contribute to misinformation, regardless of their education, intelligence, or political beliefs.
Although the terms are frequently used interchangeably, misinformation and disinformation have an important distinction: intent.
Consider the example of the nonexistent law.
If someone knowingly fabricated the story to influence public opinion, they would be spreading disinformation. But if you believed their story and shared it with your friends, you would be spreading misinformation.
As Hoffman explains, the same piece of false information can be disinformation when deliberately created or spread to deceive and misinformation when unknowingly passed along by someone else.
Both can cause harm, even though the motivations behind them are different.
Misinformation isn't new. Rumors, false stories, and inaccurate claims have existed throughout human history. What has changed is how quickly and widely information can spread.
Today, social media allows a single misleading post to reach thousands or even millions of people. Recommendation algorithms can further amplify sensational or emotionally engaging content, regardless of whether it is accurate.
Artificial intelligence has also introduced new challenges. Generative AI can produce realistic-looking images, convincing audio recordings, videos, and news articles depicting events that never occurred.
However, technology is only part of the problem.
Michael Rich, former president and CEO of the RAND Corporation, describes a broader phenomenon called truth decay, which includes the blurring of facts and opinions, the growing prominence of opinion over factual reporting, declining trust in traditional sources of information, and increasing disagreement over objective facts.
These conditions make it easier for inaccurate information to circulate and harder for people to determine what they should believe.
Misinformation can affect everything from personal health decisions to public understanding of elections and government.
For example, inaccurate information about voting procedures could cause someone to misunderstand when, where, or how they can vote. False medical claims could lead people to make decisions that put their health at risk.
Misinformation can also contribute to political polarization and distrust.
When people repeatedly encounter conflicting accounts of reality, they may become increasingly uncertain about which sources are credible. This can make productive political discussion difficult because people no longer agree on the basic facts underlying their disagreements.
Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge, argues that establishing a shared understanding of truth is one of the fundamental challenges facing any society.
Without some agreement about what is factual, citizens struggle to evaluate public policies, hold leaders accountable, and make informed democratic decisions.
Fortunately, preventing misinformation doesn't require becoming an expert in every subject. It often begins with developing a few simple habits.
Before sharing information:
Hoffman summarizes this responsibility with a simple reminder: "Care before you share."
Ultimately, misinformation is something anyone can encounter or unintentionally spread. The goal isn't to distrust everything we see, but to develop the critical thinking and media literacy skills necessary to distinguish reliable information from falsehoods.
In an information environment where anyone can publish and share content instantly, taking a moment to verify what we believe can make a meaningful difference.
What is misinformation, and how does it spread so quickly online? Learn the difference between misinformation and disinformation, how social media and AI amplify false narratives, and what experts say you can do to protect yourself and strengthen democracy.
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Subscribe to our NewsletterMisinformation is bad because false or misleading information can cause people to make decisions based on things that aren't true. It can harm public health, influence elections, damage reputations, increase political polarization, and undermine trust in reliable sources of information. Even when misinformation is shared without malicious intent, its consequences can be serious. In a democracy, widespread misinformation is particularly dangerous because citizens need accurate information to evaluate political leaders, debate public policies, and make informed voting decisions. When people cannot agree on basic facts, solving shared problems becomes much more difficult.
The main difference between misinformation and disinformation is intent. Misinformation is false or misleading information shared by someone who believes it is true, while disinformation is false or misleading information deliberately spread to deceive or manipulate others. For example, someone who knowingly creates a fake news story to influence an election is spreading disinformation. However, someone who believes that story and shares it with friends is spreading misinformation. Both can cause harm by misleading the public, influencing decisions, and undermining trust in reliable information, but only disinformation necessarily involves intentional deception.
Misinformation affects democracy by making it harder for citizens to make informed decisions, participate in elections, and hold political leaders accountable. False or misleading information can distort voters' understanding of candidates and policies, discourage electoral participation, increase political polarization, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. When misinformation becomes widespread, people may struggle to agree on basic facts, making productive debate and compromise more difficult. Because democracy depends on an informed public, the spread of misinformation can weaken the foundations of democratic governance, even when false information is shared without malicious intent.
Misinformation spreads when people share false or misleading information they mistakenly believe is true. It can travel through social media, news outlets, podcasts, messaging apps, and everyday conversations. Social media algorithms can amplify misinformation by recommending engaging content to more users, while emotionally charged claims and trusted personal relationships can encourage people to share information without verifying it. Artificial intelligence can also accelerate the spread by making convincing fake images, videos, and articles easier to create. Together, these factors allow false information to reach large audiences quickly, sometimes before anyone has checked whether it is accurate.
To combat misinformation, verify information before sharing it, evaluate the credibility of sources, check claims against reliable evidence, and develop strong media literacy skills. Be especially cautious of sensational headlines, emotionally charged messages, and suspicious images or videos. Fact-checking organizations such as PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, and Snopes can help identify false claims. Combating misinformation also requires educating others, correcting falsehoods respectfully, and supporting trustworthy journalism and institutions. While misinformation cannot be eliminated entirely, individuals and organizations can reduce its spread by promoting accurate information and encouraging critical thinking.
Brandon Stover is the Network Manager for The Democracy Group and a Digital Content Specialist at the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. He leads partnerships and collaborations across the podcast network, oversees educational content strategy, and produces written, audio, and video content while managing the network's digital marketing efforts. Before joining the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, Brandon founded and led a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating free educational content on global issues. He holds a master's degree in Architecture from Washington State University.
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