University of Kwazulu-Natal

Impact Of Misinfo Misinformation Libguides At Deakin University

Bonisiwe Shabane
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impact of misinfo misinformation libguides at deakin university

Misinformation and disinformation can do real harm not just online, but in the real world. They can shape how people vote, what medical treatments they trust, how they view each other, and whether they feel safe in their communities. Sometimes the goal is to shift beliefs about a specific issue, like public health or climate change. Other times, the aim is broader: to create confusion, cause division, or erode trust in facts altogether. There’s no single reason to explain people sharing misinformation and it’s not always intentional. People often share things that:

Anyone, even educated people, can be misled by misinformation or disinformation. In fact, one disinformation tactic is to overwhelm people with conflicting information, until they stop trusting anything. And that, ultimately, is part of the impact: a more divided, uncertain, and less informed society. The consequences of misinformation can be far-reaching and impact individuals, communities, and even entire societies. Indeed, misinformation was listed as one of the global risks by the World Economic Forum in its 2024 Global Risks Report. Here are some examples of significant effects:

This guide is designed to help you better understand the misformation world. We cover the basics of misinformation and explore the potential consequences of misinformation. Plus we offer practical steps you can take to counter misinformation. We also provide information, games, and further resources to support your ability to engage thoughtfully and critically with today's information landscape. Before moving through the content, watch the video (2:52) to get a quick overview of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Shout Out UK.

(2020). How to understand Misinformation, Disinformation and Malinformation. If you need further support, please reach out to the Library. Crediting creators and attributing content is a core part of academic integrity and being a digital citizen more broadly. This guide was created by Deakin Library. The text and layout of this Misinformation guide is © Deakin University (2025) and licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0

Misinformation can increase during certain times, such as elections and health crises, as people seek to understand and react to rapidly unfolding situations. More recently, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise and has become a sneaky accomplice to mis-, dis-, and mal-information, promoting their viral spread online. Dealing with misinformation involves two key actions: Techniques like lateral reading (checking other trusted sources) can take a little extra time, but they are powerful tools for uncovering the truth. While it can be tricky to talk to others about misinformation, especially if they strongly believe it, learning how to respond calmly and respectfully can make a real difference. It’s important to recognise your own bias, because misinformation and disinformation frequently use emotionally charged language (whether in text or image) to elicit a response – and this means appealing to stereotypes and prejudices.

This is especially important for sources online, which are often driven by algorithms - powered by AI constantly analysing your behaviour to figure out what to show you next - with the intent to... While this can be helpful in some cases, it can also lead to a “filter bubble” where you’re only exposed to information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs. This can make it harder to recognise when something is false or misleading. Remember that information can be used for similar reasons across all forms of media – whether in print, broadcast, etc. Misinformation isn’t new, but how quickly it spreads and how convincing it looks today has changed. Social media, AI, and other digital tools can accelerate false claims, but they also give us the power to evaluate and push back.

This section will help you build the skills to spot and question misinformation by strengthening your critical thinking, digital literacy, and source evaluation strategies. Going online can feel a bit like heading out on a hike. You wouldn’t just wander into the bush without a map, the right gear, or some idea of what to watch out for — and it’s the same in the digital world. The terrain might look familiar, but misinformation can be hidden in plain sight. Critical thinking gives you the tools to navigate safely. It means asking questions like:

Does it try to make me feel something strongly?

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