What is Fake News? The Differences Between Misinformation, Disinformation, and Propaganda

Have you ever shared health information with family or friends because you thought it would be for their own good?

In my daily work with patients, I sometimes hear things like, "Doctor, I saw this online, but is it true that this method can cure my illness?" Their eyes are filled with desperate hope.

Unfortunately, much of that information is baseless "misinformation" or intentionally created "disinformation." But no one has bad intentions. In fact, the kindest people are often the ones who spread rumors out of a good-hearted desire to "let everyone know."

Today, I would like to think together about how to discern information to protect yourself and your loved ones, incorporating real-life examples I have seen in the medical field.

The Pitfalls of the Term "Fake News"

First, the term "fake news," which we use so often. Actually, it is very ambiguous.

Have you ever seen a politician attack a report they find inconvenient by calling it "fake news"? This term has become a weapon used to strike down "information one doesn't like."

That is why experts have proposed the concept of "Information Disorder," in order to understand it more accurately.

This is a way of thinking that classifies information along two axes: "truthfulness" and "intent." It is like diagnosing a disease—you identify the "symptoms" of the information.

Three Types of Information Disorder Seen in the Exam Room

I have encountered these three patterns many times in the medical field.

The first is "Misinformation"—mistakes without bad intentions.

This is information born from careless mistakes or misunderstandings.

One day, a patient in her 60s said, "I heard from a friend that drinking hot water kills the virus!"

Her eyes were filled with pure good intentions. She wanted to tell her friend because she was worried about her. But unfortunately, that information has no medical basis.

The danger of misinformation lies in the fact that "it is spread by well-meaning people." Because there is no malice, everyone believes it.

The second is "Disinformation"—calculated lies.

This is false information created intentionally.

For example, an advertisement for a health food product that claims "Recommended by doctors!" when it has not actually been supervised by a doctor. Or, suspicious supplements that claim to cure cancer.

The sender knows it is a lie. However, they lie deliberately to earn money or to manipulate public opinion.

Every time I see a patient in my office tearing up because they spent money on expensive alternative therapies, my heart aches.

The third is 'Malinformation'—weaponized truth.

This may be the most troublesome, because the information itself is a 'fact'.

For example, leaking that a celebrity has an illness to attack them socially. Or, exaggerating information about a medical error to spread it and ruin a hospital's reputation.

Because it is the truth, it is difficult to refute and causes serious damage. It is like using medicine as a poison.

Another Face: The Technique of Persuasion Called Propaganda

There is one more important concept here. That is propaganda.

Propaganda is not necessarily a lie. Rather, it is a technique that selects only a portion of the truth to try to guide your emotions or actions in a specific direction.

For example, information regarding vaccines.

Emphasizing only the fact that 'some people had side effects from the vaccine' and concluding that 'therefore, vaccines are dangerous.' However, how many tens of thousands of people received the vaccine without side effects, or how many cases of severe illness were prevented—that kind of information is intentionally hidden.

This is called cherry-picking. Just like picking only the convenient cherries, you choose only the convenient information.

In modern social media, biased information is increasingly amplified by algorithms that show us only the 'information we want to see.' Experts call this a propaganda feedback loop.

Three Questions to Discern the Difference

So, how should we discern information?

What I always keep in mind are these three questions.

Question 1: 'Is this information really correct?' (Verify authenticity)

Is the source clearly stated? Can it be verified by multiple reliable sources?

Question 2: 'Who is sending this, and for what purpose?' (Explore the intent)

Is it for advertising revenue? A political motive? Or pure good intentions?

Question 3: "Are your emotions being stirred?" (Stay calm)

Information that incites anger, anxiety, or fear is more likely to spread. Take a deep breath before making a judgment.

This is just like a medical examination. You look at the symptoms, investigate the cause, and make a calm diagnosis. It is important to "examine" information in the same way.

Surviving the Infodemic Era

We are currently living in an era of an infodemic (an explosion of information).

Information spreads instantly like a virus, with misinformation, disinformation, and malicious information becoming complexly intertwined. It is much like a pandemic where various pathogens break out simultaneously.

However, you possess "immunity."

That is the ability to doubt information, verify it, and stop to think. If you hone this power, you will not be swept away by any wave of information.

What protects your loved ones is not expensive supplements or special folk remedies. It is accurate knowledge and calm judgment.

Conclusion: You Can Make a Difference

In the examination room, there are things I think about often.

"If only this patient hadn't believed that rumor." "If only they had reached the correct information at that point."

Information influences people's lives. Sometimes, even their lives themselves.

But you, having read this article today, are different now.

You have learned the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and malicious information. You have gained the perspective to see through intentions.

The next time you think "Is this true?" on social media, you will surely be able to stop. You can take a breath before pressing the share button.

That small step protects you and your loved ones.

So that you do not drown in the sea of information.

Let's swim together, wisely and strongly.

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