Disinformation and Misinformation

We live in a time when truth is under assault, disinformation runs rampant, and our shared reality hangs by a thread. From the alarming rise of climate change denial to anti-vax propaganda, a single piece of disinformation can be shared by unwitting users who amplify it as misinformation.Disinformation and Misinformation provides an introduction to understanding these complex falsehoods and why people believe them. The book examines both disinformation and misinformation, which stem from different motivations but frequently converge in our networked world. By treating them together, the book illuminates, via several case studies, the systemic factors—algorithmic design, social polarization, declining trust in institutions, and psychological biases—that enable these falsehoods to thrive. The book argues that mis/disinformation are inherently social issues that require social solutions. While technological solutions can help, the ultimate challenge lies in addressing social polarization and improving digital literacy.This book is indispensable for students, scholars and journalists, and for anyone who wants to understand this contested and complex debate, and what to do about it.