At its core, “disinformation” designates the act of deliberately spreading false information to consciously influence public opinion. This tactic is increasingly used to undermine trust in democratic institutions. It circulates primarily on social media but also appears on unreliable websites and media platforms that use disinformation for their own purposes.
Disinformation can often be recognised by the fact that major media outlets do not cover these topics. If subjects deliberately evoke strong or negative emotions or do not cite any sources, this can also be an indication that the video, text, or image is disinformation.
To avoid disinformation, you can seek out the original source of a claim and cross-reference the information with reputable media organisations that adhere to recognised journalistic standards.
