Did you know that there are Five types of Mis/Dis Information?

By Anne Stone

Mis/Dis information can be categorized based on what makes it false or misleading.  The following five types are commonly found online:

1. False context 
    An image, video, quote or other piece of content is presented in a new, false context that changes its meaning.

2. Fabricated content 
   Misinformation that is entirely made up, such as computer-generated imagery or entirely fictional reports presented as “news”.

3. Stolen satire
   A specific type of “false context” misinformation in which all or part of a piece of satire is presented as authentic. 

4. Imposter content
   Content — such as a fake tweet from a public figure, or a fake ad — that falsely uses a well-known name, brand or logo to fool people into believing that it is authentic.

5. Manipulated content 
   Photos, videos, graphics and other types of content that have been “doctored” in some way, such as having one or more elements artificially added or removed.

Your best defenses: 

• Checking out unfamiliar people and sources; 
• Glancing through social media comments for replies that call a post into question;
• A quick internet search using key terms from a questionable post.

Check out the News Literacy Project for more information.