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Misinformation, disinformation and fake news

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Covering the impact of misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Includes tips for finding trusted information and tools for assessing the information you find.

Definitions
  • Disinformation: A deliberate attempt to mislead using material that the deceiver knows is untrue, designed to be widely shared.1  
  • Misinformation: An umbrella term to describe false, misleading or out of context material regardless of the motivation behind it.2 
  • Fake news: False, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting.3 

Often used interchangeably so it can be confusing. However, it all means that the information is incorrect or out of context.  

The information can be from anywhere- from a conversation, newspapers, social media, online. It includes the results that you get from generative AI tools. 

Impact

The impact of this type of information can be wide ranging:  

  • Can undermine peoples understanding on a topic as there can be information overload or conflicting comments
  • It can cloud the picture for people, making it hard to sift out the right information
  • Information overload can cause stress and anxiety  
  • It can change individual health decisions e.g. non-compliance with medical advice or people to undertake dangerous practices
  • It can lead to public health impacts e.g. recent measles outbreaks across the world  

How do you deal with mis/dis information and fake news? 

  1. Ask questions  
  2. Thinking about what you find 
  3. Make informed judgments and decisions 
  4. Applies to all information: online, printed material, spoken 
  5. Benefits of developing these skills 
    • In control of actions 
    • Better understanding on a subject 

Where to find trusted information

Where you look depends on what you are asking about.  

  • Background or overview: Books, a trusted online resource or speaking to a professional in the field might be possible places to find information.  
  • Policy: Government websites or professional organisations might have the information you are looking for. 
  • Research: Places to search are online databases or the library search on The Knowledge Network. 
  • Compare clinical practice with current evidence: Guidelines (Locally or nationally, evidence summaries from accredited organisations or government or professional bodies.   
  • Patient or carer information: NHS Inform, public libraries or third sector websites often have useful material.  

You can also contact relevant professionals in the field to see if they can point you to correct advice.  

Assessing what you find

There are some useful tools to help you assess what you find

What, who, when

  • What? What the information is about? Is it accurate? Do you know if the source is reliable? Is the material relevant to the question you asked? Can you check where it came from? Do other sources say the same thing?  
  • Who? What credentials does the author have? Are they qualified to write about this topic? Are they biased in any way, such as promoting a product? 
  • When? When was the information made available? Is it current?  

CRAPP

  • C: Currency- how recent? Is it at the right time frame? Has it been updated?  
  • R: Relevance - Does the info answer the question? Who is it for? Is this the best source? 
  • A: Authority - Who are the authors? Is there traceable info? Is it sponsored? Are there affiliations? Does the URL look legitimate (Look out for .ac.,uk, .gov, .org or country initials).  
  • A: Accuracy - Where is it from? Is there supporting evidence? Has it been peer reviewed? Can it be verified? Is it unbiased/ temperate or is it inflammatory/ emotional? Check the spelling/ grammar? 
  • P: Purpose - Why is the information there? What is the purpose? Are the intentions/ purpose clear? Is it fact or opinion? Are there biases?4

SIFT

  • S: STOP! Where does it come from?  What is the site  
  • I: Investigate the source - Is this the right place to find this info? Is it relevant?  
  • F: Find better coverage - Is this the best place to get this? Look for a better  trusted source.  
  • T: Trace claims to the source: Go back to the original if possible and if you can’t find it ask why?5
  1. ​Fake news definitions, BBC, accessed 27.08.2025
  2. ​Fake news definitions, BBC, accessed 27.08.2025
  3. ​Fake News, Collins dictionary, accessed 27.08.2025
  4. ​Blakeslee, Sarah. (2004). “The CRAAP Test”, LOEX Quarterly: vol 31: No. 3, Article 4.
  5. ​SIFT (The Four Moves), Mike Caulfield, Accessed 27.08.2025
Useful resources

Fact checking sites

Channel 4 FactCheck   
BBC Verify   
Full Fact - UK’s independent fact checking charity 
FactCheck.org A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Centre (US based)   
Snopes Fact checking website 
FactCeckNI - for Northern Ireland
Ask for Evidence – Evidence behind health claims  
Google's Fact Check Explorer 
Media Bias/Fact Check

Trusted health information

The Knowledge Network
NHS Inform 
Patient Information Forum (PIF): Health literacy matters