False Information and Rumors
$50-$300 Million
was estimated to be lost each day during the pandemic, due to mis- and disinformation1
Falsehoods are 70% More
likely to be retweeted on X (Twitter) than the truth, and reach their first 1,500 people six times faster2
The Three Topics
where misinformation can cause severe harm are disaster, health, and politics3
A study from the John Hopkins Center for Health Security estimated that misinformation and disinformation during the pandemic cost an estimated $50 million to $300 million per day in the U.S. It’s not just our country; the University at Oxford’s Internet Institute released a study exploring the many ways in which misinformation generates profits for those spreading it. Another report from the Central European University details how much other countries have made from misinformation. There’s even a study exploring how the pressure to conform helps misinformation spread. If you use social media to get most of your news, check out these popular platforms’ misinformation centers.
What is ‘Fake News’? The Difference Between Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation
| Misinformation | Not true, but also not created or shared with the intent to harm. | Usually spread by: accident, lack of fact checking, rumors |
| Disinformation | Not true and deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate a person, group, organization, or country. | Usually spread by: those seeking to cause harm or chaos |
| Malinformation | Based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate. | Usually spread by: those seeking to cause harm or chaos |
Why Would Someone Purposely Spread False Information?
There are many reasons why someone would purposely create and distribute misleading, harmful, or untrue information. Motivations range from financial (through direct payments and ad revenue), political (foreign interests weakening American democracy), to personal (retaliation, misunderstanding, boredom). Here are some resources to help you understand where false news comes from, and why it is shared:
- University of Hawaii Guide: Navigating News After Maui Fires
- National Institute of Health (Study)
- University of California Santa Barbara: Where Does Fake News Come From?
- USC: Key Reason Why Fake News Spreads
- Scientific American
- Scientific American: Information Overload
- Pew Research Center
- University of Oregon Fake News and Information Literacy Library Guide
- Impact of Fake News on Society (Study)
- National Library of Medicine: A Review of Fake News & Social Media (Study)
Rumors Preventing You from Receiving State and Federal Aid
- FEMA Steals Land?
- You Have to Pay the Money Back?
- This Was an Intentional Land Grab?
- FEMA/ARC/the Government is Confiscating Donations?
Examples of False or Misleading Information
- The Red House
- The Blue Car
- They’re Arresting People for Visiting Their Homes?
- Where are the Children?
Profiting from Rumor Reporting
If you are getting your news from social media accounts, influencers, or popular personalities, consider a few things: do they ask you to make direct monetary contributions? Do they promote and sell merchandise alongside with their posts? Do they ask for you to purchase and send things to them from a wishlist? Did you find their account or website through an advertisement? Below are some examples of what an account that profits from spreading mis-, dis-, or malinformation might use.
- The News You Won’t See on TV.. Link in Bio for Merch!
- You Can Support My Independent Reporting Through Venmo, Cashapp, Paypal, Zelle
- I’m Out Here Doing This for You.. Check Out My Wishlist!