Misinformation in the modern day
We live in a time of connection. Anyone from almost anywhere can have a conversation with someone across the world in seconds. Less than 200 years ago it could take days or weeks for a single message to be received. It is amazing how quickly and efficiently humanity can now connect with each other, even from continents apart.
Unfortunately, the near instantaneous connection with anyone in the world can have some setbacks, including the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Merriam-Webster defines “misinformation” as “Incorrect or misleading information,” and disinformation is defined as “false information deliberately spread in order to influence public opinion, usually covertly as presenting itself as fact.” While disinformation is almost always deliberately spread, although it can also be spread ignorantly in some cases, misinformation could be spread accidentally or out of ignorance.
Many people, including myself, have been impacted by the spread of misinformation. Whether it be from people we know, social media, or the news, misinformation can affect many aspects of life, including relationships with family and friends.
So how does misinformation spread so quickly? Before the rise of social media, fabricated news articles, false information in books and word-of-mouth were the main ways misinformation spread. However, with the advancements of technology and the internet, these methods have become easier to share and communicate, especially with social media apps like X (formally known as Twitter). People are also more susceptible to misinformation if it lines up with personal ideals and beliefs or if it comes during a time of crisis.
During Hurricanes Helene and Milton, misinformation and disinformation spread quickly via X and Instagram. AI Images spread across these sites claiming to show the devastation from the hurricanes. Conspiracy theories about FEMA aid after the storms led to threats to FEMA workers. Even theories about the development of these storms led to the spread of conspiracy theories that the storms had been created by the government.
Seeing the destruction in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, especially in Asheville, was shocking to me because my parents had visited only months before. Watching the spread of misinformation and conspiracies, following the tragedies of the hurricane was angering because of the further impact it had on the people trying to help.
While misinformation is prevalent during disasters, it’s possibly more prevalent within politics. During the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections the spread of disinformation played a role in influencing outcomes. The spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the electoral college and the victory of 46th president Joe Biden during the 2020 election, mainly the conspiracy that the election had been “stolen,” culminated in the riots inside and outside the capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. During the 2024 election cycle, AI images and deep fakes were used to fake scenes at rallies and celebrity endorsements, such as a fake endorsement by Taylor Swift for Donald Trump, which attempted to harm candidates or sway the public vote, along with conspiracy theories and false claims about the candidates and their plans for the country, which confused me and many others.
Misinformation sneaks its way into people’s opinions when we make sudden assumptions. This could be seen clearly and in real time in 2020.
During the 2020 lockdowns from Coronavirus, conspiracy theories and misinformation spread rapidly across social media, claiming that the virus had been faked by the government or bioengineered in a laboratory in China. As the lockdowns continued, these theories grew more and more, risking the health of those who were violating lockdown orders and the people around them.
AI has played a major role in the spread of misinformation in recent years. An AI image of the Democratic National Convention with communist symbols was reposted by Trump, causing controversy. In 2023, AI generated photos of the Pentagon and White House on fire caused a temporary dip in the U.S. Stock Market. Accounts on social media websites run by AI can and have been used in order to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories.
The quick spread of misinformation has also led to panic in the midst of a crisis. In the aftermath of the school shooting at Apalachee High School, rumors spread via word of mouth and social media that more schools would be targeted, including Cedar Shoals. Many students at Cedar didn’t show up for the rest of the week, and many of the students that did come, including myself, were terrified. In the end, many of these threats were false claims that had no backing, although this did little to reassure many of the students.
Misinformation has been around for a long time, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Whatever major events will happen in the next year will probably be followed by a stream of misinformation and conspiracy theories. The best thing that can be done to avoid misinformation is to be aware of what you are being told, and whether or not it’s too good or bad to be true.
