- Definition
Misinformation is information that is wrong or not true, even if the person sharing it believes it to be correct.
Someone sharing an old news photo thinking it's from a current event is spreading misinformation.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Misinformation is like a game of telephone where the message gets mixed up by accident as it passes along.
Ask your child: Have you ever heard a rumour that turned out to be totally wrong?
Common mix-up: Kids might think misinformation is the same as a deliberate lie. Misinformation is often spread by people who don't realize it's wrong.
Examples
- A friend telling you a video game cheat that doesn't actually work because they heard it from someone else.
- Repeating a 'fact' about a celebrity that you read in a gossip article, which turns out to be untrue.
misinformation 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 ↗
