misinformation
Inaccurate spread data
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information, regardless of intent.
Unlike disinformation, which is deliberately deceptive, misinformation may spread through honest error or misunderstanding: Social media accelerates the spread of misinformation.
The term gained prominence in debates about online content and public health messaging.
Deliberately untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- falsityState of being incorrect
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- inaccuracyLack of precision
distortion · misstatement · misrepresentation · falsehood · canard · fib · half-truth · misquotation
Rapid rotation around axis
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
psyops · censorship · astroturfing · trolling · radicalization · incitement · subversion · ideology
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
sham · con · scam · impersonation · catfishing · deepfake · photoshopped · doctored
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
tittle-tattle · innuendo · buzz · grapevine · word-of-mouth · conjecture · allegation · unverified
Erroneous belief or understanding
- fallacyError in reasoning
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- pseudoscienceBogus methodology posing as factual
flat-earth · anti-vax · folklore · delusion · illusion · error · misbelief · fact-check
fabrication
Deliberately untrue statement
inaccuracy · distortion · misstatement · misrepresentation · falsehood · canard · fib · half-truth · misquotation · misreport
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
manipulation · psyops · censorship · astroturfing · trolling · radicalization · incitement · subversion · ideology · dogma
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
falsification · sham · con · scam · impersonation · catfishing · deepfake · photoshopped · doctored · staged
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- whisperSpeech without full voice
scuttlebutt · tittle-tattle · innuendo · buzz · grapevine · word-of-mouth · conjecture · allegation · unverified · unconfirmed
misconception
Erroneous belief or understanding
- fallacyError in reasoning
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
pseudoscience · flat-earth · anti-vax · folklore · delusion · illusion · error · misbelief · fact-check · Snopes
- Mistakes & Liesmistakes, lies, errors, error, mistake
- misinformationfake news, falsehoods, hoaxes, lies, false claims
- tech lawinternet law, privacy laws, cybercrime, content moderation, digital privacy
- voter suppressionvoter suppression, voter intimidation, disenfranchisement, poll tax, poll taxes
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- digital culturesocial media, memes, hashtags, viral content, influencers
misinformationtruth
Accordance with reality
fact · facts · reality · hard facts · evidence
- misinformation campaignsOrganized spreading of falsehoods
inform, information, uninformed, informative, informant, misinform, misinformed, disinformation, misinforming