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Evaluating Online Information

This guide will provide opportunities for viewers to work through the various techniques and steps of evaluating online information such as things found on websites and social media.

Misinformation and Disinformation

If you think of misinformation and disinformation as living in the same neighborhood, it's easier to see how they can overlap at times and work together. Many people use these words interchangeably, but they have very distinct definitions. 

  • Misinformation is information where something is missing. but the intent is not to deceive. 
  • Disinformation is created with malicious intent and disseminated with the intent to deceive.  There are many words and phrases that live in this neighborhood such as fake news, propaganda and conspiracy theory. 

Click on the tabs on the left to learn more about specific types of disinformation.