Misinformation is the inadvertent sharing of information that is incorrect. “In the olden days” the spread of misinformation was limited and slow as conversations occurred or as snail mail made it to its destination. Disinformation – the intentional and malicious dissemination of incorrect information followed the same slow path of spread.

Fast-forward to today and just about every single person holds enormous power to spread both forms of information. Add to that, engines (platforms) that make the most ridiculous information look legit and a population untrained and ill-equipped to both take in the amount of information being flung at us daily or the skills (and interest) to fact-check and verify what we are seeing.

In this era of fear, divisiveness, and polarization around even small issues, it is incumbent on each of us to call out those that spread disinformation and to ensure we are not contributing to any misinformation that is out there. And if you think it does not matter – think again! Just look at the information going around about coronavirus or US politics…. What you post and what you share influences peoples and gets passed along.

It is also important for those of us with young people in our sphere, to contribute to their learning, understanding and skills related to good practices related to data and information.