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Misinformation and Disinformation: Thinking Critically about Information Sources

This Research Guide is loosely adapted from a guide developed by the Research Center at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation

The Era of Misinformation

Misinformation: unintentional mistakes such as inaccurate photo captions, dates, statistics, translations, or when satire is taken seriously. This type of "wrong" information is accidental and is not intended to harm.

Disinformation: fabricated or deliberately manipulated audio/visual content. Intentionally created conspiracy theories or rumours. This type of "wrong" information is deliberately shared to harm or deceive a person.

Malinformation: Deliberate publication of private information for personal or corporate rather than public interest, such as revenge porn. Deliberate change of context, date or time of genuine content.