Tell it apart
| Aspect | Misinformation | Disinformation |
|---|---|---|
| True? | No | No |
| Intent to mislead | Not required | Yes, by definition |
| Typical sharer | Someone who believes it | Someone who knows it's false |
| Word of the Year | Dictionary.com 2018 | No |
Both are false. Disinformation is spread on purpose, to mislead. Misinformation is false information spread regardless of intent, often by people who believe it. The same claim can start as one and become the other.
What it doesn't mean
The difference is intent. Disinformation is spread to mislead deliberately. Misinformation is false whatever the intent, and the people sharing it often believe it.
Most people who pass on misinformation believe it. Dictionary.com's example: a politician knowingly spreads a false claim (disinformation), and a supporter who believes it shares it on (misinformation).
What it really means
Misinformation is false information, and the key point is that whoever spreads it may believe it.
Dictionary.com named it Word of the Year for 2018 on 26 November. Its definition: "false information that is spread, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead". The final clause is the important part. It is what separates misinformation from disinformation, which Dictionary.com defines as deliberately misleading or biased information, or propaganda. The difference comes down to intent. People who spread misinformation often believe what they are sharing. Disinformation is made and spread to mislead.
The two keep turning into each other. Dictionary.com's example: a politician knowingly spreads a false claim, which is disinformation. A supporter sees it, believes it and shares it, and now it is misinformation. So the same claim can be both, depending on who is sharing it and why.
Dictionary.com's reasons for the pick were about how information travels. The word has been in English since the late 1500s. What had changed over the previous decade was social media. On social platforms, Dictionary.com said, fact-checking is an afterthought for most people, if it is a thought at all, and misinformation thrives. In 2018 technology platforms were under pressure over their role in spreading it, and some made high-profile decisions to remove accounts. Dictionary.com said it chose the word because understanding the concept is vital to spotting misinformation and limiting its impact.
The pick had a clear background. Over the previous couple of years Dictionary.com had been adding and updating a whole vocabulary around the subject: disinformation, echo chamber, confirmation bias, filter bubble, fake news and post-truth among them. Misinformation was the word that tied them together.
Where it comes from
- Late 1500s
Misinformation is first recorded in English, according to Dictionary.com.
- 2010s
Social media changes how fast and far information travels, and fact-checking often comes too late, if at all.
- 26 November 2018
Dictionary.com names misinformation its 2018 Word of the Year.
In real life
- Her uncle shared the fake cure in good faith. It was misinformation, not a lie, because he believed every word.
- The rumour that the bridge was closing for a year was misinformation: it was closing for a weekend.
- The researchers traced the false story back to an account that had invented it on purpose. What started as disinformation became misinformation once ordinary users believed it and passed it on.
Questions
Q01What does misinformation mean?
Dictionary.com defines it as 'false information that is spread, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead'. What makes it misinformation is that it is false, not that anyone meant to deceive.
Q02What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Intent. Disinformation is deliberately misleading or biased information. Misinformation is false information spread regardless of intent, often by people who believe it. A piece of disinformation becomes misinformation when someone who believes it shares it on.
Q03Why was misinformation Dictionary.com's Word of the Year 2018?
Dictionary.com pointed to the rampant spread of falsehoods and the role technology platforms play in it. It said understanding the concept is vital to identifying misinformation and curbing its impact.
Q04How old is the word misinformation?
It has been in English since the late 1500s. What changed recently was how fast information can spread on social media.
Sources
- Why 'Misinformation' Was Dictionary.com's 2018 Word Of The Year (26 November 2018).
- Word Of The Year: Dictionary.com's past Words of the Year.