Propaganda is “information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people’s opinions.” And while in the 20th century, propaganda conjures images of goose-stepping Nazi’s and the use of symbols, false history, and anti-Semitic rhetoric produced by the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under one of Adolf Hitler’s closest and most devoted acolytes, Joseph Goebbels, misinformation and disinformation can be much harder to spot.
In an age where people get their information, not from reputable news sources, but from the many voices that crowd the online arena. Some with nefarious intentions or just passing on information they have been convinced is true. Knowing how to spot misinformation and disinformation in the 21st century is more important than ever.
