How marketers can help combat mis- and disinformation
While it might be easy to assume that ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably, there’s actually an important reason why they need to be distinguished, writes Imran Masood.
Fake news. Conspiracy theories. Misinformation. Disinformation. These terms have been thrown around so liberally over the past couple of years that they have begun to blur together.
While it might be easy to assume that ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably, there’s actually an important reason why they need to be distinguished: intent.
Misinformation is “false information that is spread, regardless of intent, to mislead”, while disinformation is “false information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organisation to a rival power or the media”. Put simply, misinformation can be spread unintentionally, by someone who believes they are factually correct. On the other hand, disinformation is solely an intentional act, often committed to gain the upper hand or to harm a perceived enemy.
