Which term refers to false information deliberately created and spread to deceive, with intent to mislead?

• A. Deepfake
• B. Disinformation
• C. Cherry-Picking
• D. Algorithm

Answer: (B)

Disinformation is false information created and spread with intent to mislead. The crucial element here is intention: it’s not just about sharing something incorrect, but about deliberately making up or twisting information to deceive people, influence opinions, or manipulate behavior. This helps explain why people study it in media literacy—to recognize when content is designed to mislead rather than merely being mistaken. A deepfake is a technology that can be used to produce highly convincing false media and can serve as a vehicle for disinformation, but the term itself focuses on the intent to deceive rather than the method. Cherry-picking refers to presenting only data that supports a claim while ignoring contrary evidence, which can mislead even with truthful data, and an algorithm is the system that determines what we see online; it’s not about deception by itself, though it can affect how disinformation spreads.