- Definition
Disinformation is when someone intentionally spreads made-up information to trick or mislead people.
A fake social media account posting a made-up story about a celebrity to damage their reputation is an example of disinformation.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Disinformation is like someone making up a fake rule in a game on purpose just to trick other players.
Ask your child: How could you tell if a rumour at school was spread on purpose to cause trouble?
Common mix-up: Kids may think all false information is the same. Disinformation is different because it's a lie spread on purpose to fool people, while misinformation can be an honest mistake.
Examples
- An edited photo shared online to make it look like a politician said something they never did.
- A website pretending to be a real news source that publishes fake stories to make people angry.
disinformation is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
