In today's world, misinformation and disinformation are more common than ever, making it challenging to interpret all of the information we encounter daily. According to the American Psychological Association:
- Misinformation refers to "false or inaccurate information," often stemming from mistakes or misunderstandings.
- Disinformation is "false information deliberately intended to mislead," or a calculated effort to distort facts.
Without accurate information, it can be difficult to make informed decisions about the things that are important to us. Learn how to spot both misinformation and disinformation in everyday life with the resources below.
Upcoming Library Events
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SOS: Spot Online Scams! - October 15 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM (Online)
Learn about common scams, how they operate, and tactics that you can use to help mitigate risk while interacting online. -
AI and Modern Misinformation - October 17 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM (Online)
Learn the basics of how generative AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to tell the difference between AI and human-created information online. -
Learn to Discern Health Information - October 22 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM (Online)
Learn strategies to help you verify medical information you hear from family, friends, or the internet and investigate the reputation of sources that share medical information with the public. -
Facts, Not Fighting: How to Talk About Misinformation - October 24 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM (Online)
An overview of different approaches for effectively engaging others about misinformation and sensitive topics regularly affected by misinformation.
Additional Resources
- Projects & Resources | Center for an Informed Public - This interdisciplinary research initiative at the University of Washington is dedicated to resisting strategic misinformation, promoting an informed society and strengthening democratic discourse.
- Spot the Deepfake | Center for an Informed Public - Take the quiz to see if you can identify the falsified information in the video.
- Calling Bullsh*t: Data Reasoning in a Digital World | Carl T. Bergstrom, Jevin West - View the syllabus with links to readings from a 2023 course on identifying misinformation from the Information School at the University of Washington.
- Which Face is Real? | Carl T. Berstrom, Jevin West - Take the quiz to see if you can identify which photograph features a real human.
- Digital Literacy | Whatcom County Library System - Whatcom County Library System partners with The Center for an Informed Public – University of Washington and The National Science Foundation to provide information you can trust and resources so you can learn more about identifying misinformation online.
