Bad disinformation, is false information that we get that makes our lives worse off. How bad the information depends on exactly what it is about. It can be mildly annoying to deadly wrong. For instance, if you’re like me, you’ve had a car mechanic at a Quick Lube tell you that he replaced your windshield wiper fluid when he didn’t. That might not be devastating disinformation, but certainly annoying if there’s something you need to wash out. It could be worse.

 

Hopefully, you haven't experienced a car mechanic saying he completed your oil change only to find he didn’t complete it because he forgot to screw the top onto the oil reservoir, making you break down on the freeway (this happened to one of us!). Such disinformation might not lead to majorly bad consequences, but if you don’t pay attention, it could bring you into a deadly situation.

 

Some even share disinformation that can harm groups of people. This disinformation could have immediate consequences like the above examples. Sometimes the disinformation could have long-term potential consequences, like the unfounded claims that vaccines are a conspiracy to implant microchips inside our body to control or track people and other disprovable conspiracy beliefs.
 

We can better detect disinformation that comes at us. We can better protect ourselves, our families, and our nation. It is up to each of us, individually, to be aware of the harm that disinformation brings to us. 

 

Make Truth Matter Again exists to combat disinformation. 

 

We are part of a growing movement of groups and organizations that are taking aim at disinformation on all scales. Together, with honest people like you, we are pushing for a world where we are less hurt by dishonesty and deceit. We’re working to be better prepared to create a future that has freedoms and liberties that make our country and the world a great place. 

 

But combating disinformation is not easy without everyone’s participation. We need your help. 

 

Harmful information can spread contagiously, exponentially, like a virus, and it can be much more harmful than a flu virus. It can mess up more than just your health⁠—it can mess up your lives in general. Fortunately, just as you can take steps to prevent biological viruses from harming you, you can help to prevent disinformation from spreading and harming. Here’s how:

 

• We can prevent ourselves from being harmed by disinformation and improve our understanding of the tricks of disinformation and better protect ourselves from what it might do to us. 

• We can help others to protect themselves from the harms of disinformation. By sharing what we know, and encouraging them to improve their own “information hygiene,” they may be better able to ward off the infectious dangers it might cause. 

 

Make Truth Matter Again is focusing on improving our collective awareness of disinformation and the damages it can bring to ourselves individually and to society. Without your effort and support, disinformation may continue to spread with dangerous consequences. Here is what you can do: 

 

• Learn and share effective communication strategies to combat disinformation

• Commit to honesty and to not spreading disinfo yourself.

• Speak up about disinformation when you see it and work to effectively share with others what you have learned. 

• Join the growing communities that are dedicated to improving honesty and combating disinformation. 

• Reach beyond your networks and sponsor honest advertising⁠—advertisements that are created, specifically gauged to improve everyone’s defenses against disinfo. 

• Support MTMA's efforts in fighting disinformation. 

It is up to us to create a future that is freer, and safer from the harms that might come our way.

It is up to us to Make Truth Matter Again!