According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "Disinformation is the false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth."
With social media, disinformation is becoming increasingly dangerous as the scale of disinformation is spreading at a rate that was previously unthinkable and it is often promoted by algorithms, which prioritize user involvement over any other element. What happens online does not simply stay online and influences the real-world decisions of individuals who base their choices about important parts of their lives such as health, finances or voting for elected officials on disinformation.
Please see the video below from the European Parliament that that gives a quick overview of the psychology behind disinformation and how it works.
