Misinformation and disinformation have become pervasive in the modern world, fueled by the rapid spread of information through media and social platforms. Misinformation refers to inaccurate information shared unintentionally while disinformation is deliberately misleading. This theme’s essay discusses how stories play a role in
informing as well as misleading. The essay points out how studies show that storytelling can have a physiological effect on the brain, syncing the listener's brainwaves with the storyteller's and influencing lifestyle changes. The spread of disinformation often relies on elements of truth to lend credibility to false narratives, as seen in political propaganda, financial schemes, and divisive stories. However, there are also examples where disinformation has been used strategically for positive outcomes, such as the Allied disinformation campaign during World War II that helped save lives.
