Misinformation, Disinformation, and Public Health

whats the point?

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to explain how false health information spreads, why it can be harmful, and how to recognize and avoid misinformation and disinformation.

The last lesson taught us to look past headlines and check sources to evaluate health claims. Despite this, misinformation can spread quickly; not everyone knows how to spot it.

For example, Jordan shared an article about a “natural cure” for diabetes, only to find out it wasn’t backed by real science. She wondered how she fell for it and why others shared it.

In this lesson, you’ll explore how misinformation (false information shared by people who believe it’s true) and disinformation (false information shared on purpose to mislead others) spread through the media.

Both can harm health decisions. Understanding how they spread and how to recognize their tactics is crucial for protecting ourselves and our community.

Let’s discover how false health messages spread and how we can stop them!

How Does Misinformation Spread?

misinformation (false information shared by people who believe it’s true) Misinformation is false information shared by people who believe it’s true. (Bless their hearts.)

Misinformation spreads quickly, especially on social media.

A catchy headline or dramatic claim can travel faster than a carefully researched report.

People may share health messages without checking if they are accurate because the information makes them feel shocked, worried, hopeful, or validated.

Misinformation often uses persuasion techniques—strategies designed to convince you to believe or do something, which we briefly mentioned in our previous lesson.

Some examples include:

When you recognize these techniques, you can question whether a health message is truly evidence-based information or just designed to persuade.

But Why Does This Happen?

Sometimes, misinformation spreads because people trust their friends or favorite influencers more than official sources.
Other times, misinformation spreads because people are scared, confused, or desperate for answers, especially during a health crisis.
News outlets may also play a role. While many reporters aim to be accurate, they sometimes oversimplify or exaggerate research to grab attention. Headlines might leave out important details, and personal stories may be used to make a point, even if they don’t represent what’s true for most people.

This is why it is so important to check source credibility—whether the source is trustworthy, qualified, and objective.

So, What is Disinformation? How Does That Spread?

False information shared on purpose to mislead others

Disinformation is false information shared on purpose to mislead others. The person or outlet sharing the information knows it's untrue!

Disinformation can be even more dangerous, especially if it’s used to create fear, mistrust, or confusion on purpose.

Public health professionals work hard to correct misinformation, share accurate facts, and encourage critical thinking.

Stopping false messages once they’ve spread can be difficult.

The Impact on Public Health

When misinformation spreads, it doesn’t just affect individuals like Jordan—it can affect entire communities.

False health claims can lead people to:

Avoid proven treatments
Spend money on ineffective or harmful products
Reject vaccines or medications
Follow unsafe advice
Distrust doctors and scientists

Misinformation and disinformation can make it harder to control diseases, protect vulnerable groups, and deliver clear guidance during public health emergencies.

Emerging Health Technologies: Benefits, Risks, and Media Misrepresentation

New health technologies are changing how we prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. These emerging technologies include things like mRNA vaccines, CRISPR gene editing, AI diagnostic tools, stem cell therapies, and wearable fitness trackers. They can offer powerful solutions for public health, but they can also be misunderstood or misrepresented in the media.

When the media oversimplifies or exaggerates these technologies, it can lead to confusion, unrealistic expectations, fear, or misuse.

To evaluate claims about new health technologies, you need to ask:

What is the evidence behind this technology?
What studies have been done to prove it works and is safe?
What are the benefits to individuals and communities?
What are the risks or challenges?
Is the information coming from a credible source or being exaggerated by media headlines?

Let's Check in with Jordan and See an Example

Jordan reads a headline: “Gene therapy cure for diabetes discovered—available soon!”

When she digs deeper, she finds:

The study was done only on lab mice.
Human trials haven’t started.
Scientists say it may take years to develop.
The headline left out these details.

Jordan learns that while gene therapy could offer future treatments for diseases like diabetes or cancer, it’s still being tested.

The advantage is that it could correct diseases at the genetic level.
The disadvantage is that it’s expensive, not widely available, and has unknown long-term effects.

Media reports sometimes highlight the exciting part:

“We found a cure!”

while skipping the limits and unknowns.

This can spread misinformation even when the research is real. Being able to construct an argument based on evidence means thinking critically about both the advantages and disadvantages of new health technologies. It means using facts—not hype—to explain how they can help public health, and what challenges still exist. By learning how to question and evaluate claims about emerging technologies, you’re building the skills to make informed decisions and avoid being misled by incomplete or exaggerated messages.

Jordan's Social Media Scroll Finds More Examples!

Jordan saw an online video claiming a specific gummy vitamin “cures diabetes.” The footage showed a healthy-looking influencer eating the vitamin and saying they “no longer need medication.”

It also showed symbols like a stethoscope and a white lab coat to make it seem scientific.

The image shows a healthy-looking influencer eating the vitamin and saying they “no longer need medication.”

Let’s break it down:

Text: “This gummy vitamin cures diabetes. Doctors don’t want you to know.”
Subtext: Doctors are hiding cures; natural remedies are better; you can stop using medicine.
Persuasion techniques: Association (linking vitamins with health), beautiful people (fit influencer), scientific evidence (lab coat), cause vs. correlation (implying the gummy vitamin cured the disease without proof).

Jordan didn’t realize these strategies were being used to persuade her—not to provide reliable, evidence-based information.

By understanding how to spot false information, you’re better prepared to make informed choices and help others do the same—just like Jordan is learning to do. Jordan’s experience involved misleading health posts, and we examined how new health technologies—like gene therapy, mRNA vaccines, and AI diagnostics—can be both promising and misunderstood. By evaluating both the advantages and disadvantages of emerging technologies, you practiced building arguments based on evidence instead of hype or fear.

That's the point

In this lesson, you learned how false health information spreads through misinformation and disinformation, and how techniques make misleading messages seem credible. You practiced identifying signs of misleading claims and discussed their potential harm. We examined Jordan’s experience with misleading posts and how new health technologies, like gene therapy and mRNA vaccines, can be misunderstood. You built evidence-based arguments about these technologies.

►Next Up: Next, we’ll explore how public health campaigns share accurate information to promote healthy behaviors and better community decisions.

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