Allen Stafford [00:00:00]:
Let me ask you something. Have you ever come across, and I’m sure you have, but a headline or a post online that made you stop and think, wait, is that actually true? And maybe it was something shocking or just really unexpected and it made you wonder if it was the real deal. And I think we’ve all been there, right? At some point in our lives, especially given the last several months in politics. You see, these days, we’re constantly inundated with in information everywhere, wherever you look, there’s social media, there’s your news feeds. There’s even casual conversations where people are interjecting their thoughts, their beliefs, their ideas. There’s always something new, right? Something bold. But here’s the real question I have. How do we know what’s accurate and what isn’t? Well, that’s exactly what this series is all about.

Allen Stafford [00:00:50]:
I want to welcome you to understanding misinformation versus disinformation and how to spot the difference. So in this series, we’ll explore what makes information trustworthy. I’ll also give you some tools that help you recognize misinformation and disinformation in your everyday life. I’ve also included links to a worksheet in each video description for anyone who wants to dig deeper into this topic. So stick with me and by the end of this series, you’ll have what you need. Cut through the noise and see things a bit more clearly. All right, let’s get started by talking about two words you’ve probably heard before and I just mentioned them, misinformation and disinformation. Now, these terms come up a lot whenever people discuss the accuracy of information.

Allen Stafford [00:01:39]:
And we hear this always on the news, especially when it comes to the political climate we just experienced. And we’ll continue to hear this. And they sound familiar, right? But understanding their difference is really what’s important. Misinformation and disinformation each have different intentions behind them. And knowing which is which, well, that’s the key to figuring out what’s really going on with the information we come across every single day. And when we know the difference, we’re not only better informed, but also less likely to pass along false information ourselves. If we’re all a bit more mindful, we can actually help cut down on the spread of things that just, well, aren’t true. Plus, with this knowledge, we can navigate the digital world more confidently.

Allen Stafford [00:02:20]:
Instead of feeling overwhelmed or misled by headlines, we can pause, analyze, and start to tell what’s real from what’s just noise. And that’s a Pretty powerful skill these days. So the question is, what exactly is the difference between misinformation and disinformation? Let’s start with misinformation. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that’s shared without any intent to deceive. In other words, when someone shares misinformation, they usually believe it’s true themselves. And you know, people like this, I mean, it could be a mistake, a misunderstanding, or even something that was once true but has become outdated. For example, someone might post an old statistic about the economy or share a quote they think came from a famous person. For example, the quote, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, is often attributed to, well, Albert Einstein.

Allen Stafford [00:03:19]:
Still, there is no evidence of him ever saying that. And the statement is likely attributed to a few different sources. In fact, the actual definition of insanity is having unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status or transaction. That’s a mouthful, but it’s definitely not what allegedly Einstein said that he didn’t say. So neither the source, Albert Einstein, nor the often quoted statement is accurate. Yet people still use the quote as the definition of insanity and attribute it to Albert Albert Einstein. You see, they’re not trying to mislead anyone. They just didn’t double check.

Allen Stafford [00:03:59]:
And we’ve all probably done something like this at some point. I mean, I can say I’m guilty of that too. Now, disinformation is a bit different. Disinformation is deliberately false information created specifically to deceive or manipulate. This kind of content is intentionally spread with the goal of misleading people, often to push a particular agenda or influence opinions. And I think we all know and been exposed to that recently. So for existence, let me give you an example. Imagine a fake news article designed to sway public opinion on a political issue.

Allen Stafford [00:04:33]:
Who would have thought the person or group behind it knows it’s false, but they hope it will convince people to believe or act well, in a certain way, in their way. So while misinformation usually happens by accident, disinformation is spread on purpose. Knowing this difference helps us be more mindful about the content we interact with and what we share. So now you might be wondering why it even matters. If we can tell the difference between misinformation and disinformation, isn’t it all bad? I mean, how does it actually really affect us on a personal level? Being aware protects us from being misled, it helps us make better decisions about what we read, believe, and share online. When we can spot misinformation or disinformation, we’re less likely to fall for false claims or accidentally spread them ourselves. But it goes beyond just us. On a larger scale, misinformation and disinformation can greatly impact society.

Allen Stafford [00:05:27]:
Think about it. False information can shape public opinion, influence elections, and even lead to real world consequences. When misinformation spreads unchecked, it can divide communities and erode trust in sources that should be reliable. We’ve all seen how misinformation could lead to confusion, misunderstandings, and sometimes even conflict. That’s why recognizing it is very essential. Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics of misinformation and disinformation, let’s take it a step further. The next video will explore the seven types of problematic content. These are the different ways false or misleading information can appear in our feeds.

Allen Stafford [00:06:08]:
From satire that’s taken too seriously to completely fabricated stories, each of these types has a unique way of playing with the truth, and understanding them can make us a whole lot more savvy online. So if you’re ready to level up your information skills, make sure to join me in the following video. And hey, if you’re finding this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss it. I’ll see you in the next video.