Social Media Safety / Glossary

Misinformation

Misinformation is false or misleading information that spreads, often shared by people who believe it is true. When it is spread on purpose to trick people, it is called disinformation.

It can be a fake news story, an edited photo, an old video shared as if it were new, or a claim taken out of context.

Posts that make you feel shocked, angry or scared spread fastest, so a strong feeling is a good moment to pause.

Before you share, check who posted it, when it is from, whether trusted sources report the same thing and whether the picture has appeared before somewhere else.