II. MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION

 

Across the country, Americans are facing a growing problem: they can no longer trust much of what comes out of the mass media. From gossip to elections, false stories are leaving citizens confused and divided..

Definitions

Merriam-Webster defines misinformation as “incorrect or misleading information.” It is the kind of error that can happen when someone repeats something they believe to be true but is not. Disinformation, on the other hand, is “false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth.” In short, misinformation misleads by mistake, but disinformation deceives on purpose.

Formats of Misinformation and Disinformation

Both have taken root in today’s media system. Algorithms and headlines are designed to grab attention, not to tell the truth. Ragebait articles, misleading thumbnails, and echo chambers feed the cycle, ensuring that falsehoods spread faster than facts. Accuracy becomes secondary to speed, and the result is a public that cannot find solid ground.

The real-world consequences are serious. During COVID-19, misinformation often came from neighbors or classmates repeating rumors about the safety of masks or the longterm effects of contracting the disease. During elections, misinformation can be as simple as someone mistakenly thinking polls close at the wrong time. The difference is that disinformation is an intentional campaigns that deliberately feed lies to discourage an audience.

College students are not exempt. A single misleading post about a campus event or a national headline framed with bias can shape opinions almost instantly. Without strong foundations in truth, young Americans risk being swept along with whatever narrative the media machine chooses to amplify.

The Attack on the Spread

Thankfully, new platforms are rising to challenge the status quo. Ground News and similar services now allow readers to see the same story reported from left, right, and center outlets side by side. For Americans who care about truth, these tools are a reminder that we must compare, discern, and test everything against a standard greater than the media itself.

At stake is the health of our republic and the responsibility of citizens to seek what is true. If misinformation confuses and disinformation deceives, then consumers must be people of clarity and conviction. The challenge ahead is simple to name but hard to practice: refuse to be led by lies, and fight for truth in a culture that too often rewards distortion.