Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff
Hello there, curious people.
In this article, we’re going to explore, at a high level, the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, as well as how cognitive hacking techniques can be used.
Story Time
Imagine, if you will, an extended family living together in a big house. The family consists of the following members:
- A grandmother: Annie
- A father: Brad
- A mother: Angelina
- A son: Sammy
- A cousin: Sally
It’s late on a Friday afternoon. Dad Brad is out working at the office. Mom Angelina is volunteering at a local charity store. Everyone else is at home doing their own thing.
Little Sammy, a mischievous twelve-year-old, was bored. With nothing better to do, he decided to entertain himself by spreading a rumor about Sally, his teenage cousin. He told Annie, his grandmother, that he saw Sally sneaking out of the house late at night. A touch of exaggeration and a dash of imagination transformed a harmless late-night phone call into a clandestine rendezvous. Sammy was sharing disinformation, for his own entertainment.
Granny Annie, who was well into her twilight years, ever protective and implicility trusting of her family, believed Sammy without question. The next morning, she confronted Sally with her concerns, her voice laced with disappointment. “I heard you were sneaking out last night, dear,” she said, her eyes filled with worry. “I hope you’re not getting into trouble.” Annie was acting out of misinformation and genuine concern.
Sally, taken aback by the accusation, felt a surge of anger and frustration. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but the implication was hurtful. She decided to turn the tables. That evening, when Brad and Angelina returned home, Sally greeted them with a grave expression.
With practiced calm, Sally began her tale. “I’ve been noticing some strange behavior from Sammy lately,” she started, her voice low and serious. “He’s been spending a lot of time alone in his room, and he seems unusually secretive. I think he might be involved in something he shouldn’t be.”
She continued, weaving a narrative that painted Sammy as a troubled child. She mentioned exaggerated instances of disobedience, having seen him looking at some strange things online, and with a subtle shift in tone, hinted at possible involvement in something more sinister. Sally used some simple cognitive hacking techniques to spread malinformation. The basic facts she cited were true, but painted in a negative light out of malice.
Brad and Angelina, accustomed to the peaceful rhythm of their family home, were immediately alarmed by Sally’s accusations. Their hearts sank as they imagined their son involved in something troubling. Fear and concern replaced their usual evening tranquility.
Annie, overhearing the conversation, felt a pang of guilt. She realized her role in escalating the situation. Yet, her initial belief in Sammy’s story was so strong, she found it difficult to admit her mistake.
What Sammy had started as a harmless prank had escalated into a family crisis. Disinformation had morphed into malinformation, and the trust within the family had been irrevocably damaged.
Days turned into weeks as the family navigated the tense atmosphere. Sammy, sensing the growing distrust, withdrew into himself. His once cheerful demeanor was replaced by a sullen silence. Sally, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on the attention, her stories growing increasingly dramatic.
One evening, as the family gathered for dinner, a heated argument erupted. Accusations flew, and old wounds were reopened. The once harmonious household was now a battlefield of mistrust and resentment.
The aftermath was a stark contrast to the once harmonious household. The air was thick with tension, every interaction fraught with unspoken accusations. Sammy, once a bundle of energy, retreated into a shell of silence. His once bright eyes held a shadow of sadness. Sally, sensing her victory, continued to sow seeds of discord, her words carefully chosen to maintain the rift.
It was Annie who took the first step towards reconciliation. With trembling voice, she admitted her mistake to Sally, apologizing for jumping to conclusions. Sally, caught off guard, was initially defensive but eventually relented, admitting her own role in the escalating conflict.
Brad and Angelina, their hearts heavy with regret, initiated a family meeting. In a quiet, heartfelt conversation, they expressed their disappointment in the events and emphasized the importance of trust and open communication. It was a difficult conversation, filled with tears and apologies, but it marked the beginning of the healing process.
The road to recovery was long and arduous. The family engaged in trust-building exercises, encouraged open dialogue, and sought professional help to address the emotional scars. Gradually, the atmosphere in the house began to shift. Laughter returned, albeit cautiously, and the bonds of family started to mend.
The experience had taught them a valuable lesson. The power of words, whether spoken or shared digitally, could be both constructive and destructive. They learned the importance of verifying information, thinking critically, and approaching each other with empathy and understanding. The family emerged from the ordeal stronger, their relationships deepened by the shared experience.
What is Misinformation?
Misinformation is false information shared without bad intent. Passing it on is like accidentally telling a wrong story. We may well think it’s true, but it’s not.
What is Disinformation?
Disinformation is false information shared on purpose to mislead others. Promoting it is like purposely telling a lie to trick someone. We know it’s not true, but we spread it anyway.
What is Malinformation?
Malinformation is true information used in a harmful way. Sharing it is like twisting the truth to hurt someone or make them look bad.
What is Cognitive Hacking?
Cognitive hacking is a sneaky way of manipulating people’s thoughts and actions using psychological tricks, bias exploitation, and disinformation or malinformation to make them think or do something that benefits the party who wants to manipulate them. Often against their own self-interest.
In this post we took a long walk around a hopefully relatable situation in this mildly trite work of fiction as an introduction to how easily misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, and cognitive hacking can creep into peoples lives and some of the types of damage they can do. It’s worth noting that in reality a great many friendships and family ties never recover from the negative effects of these topics and the consequences can often be more significant. In future posts we’ll take more of a deep dive into each of these topic domains.
Remember; It’s a jungle out there!