Felinformerade

Felinformerade is a Swedish-language term used in media studies and public discourse to describe individuals or groups who have received information that is false, misleading, or incomplete. The word combines fel meaning "wrong" and informerade meaning "informed," effectively conveying the sense of being misinformed. It can function both as an adjective and as a noun phrase, for example in discussions about voters, citizens, or audiences.

The concept is descriptive rather than a formal classification and appears across various topics, including politics, health, science, and civic life. Felinformerade arise through a mix of causes: deliberate disinformation campaigns, normal misinformation spread via social networks, algorithmic amplification, confirmation bias, and information overload. The term emphasizes the informational state of the affected individuals rather than implying moral fault.

Implications of felinformerade include misaligned beliefs and flawed decision-making, which can contribute to reduced trust in institutions and increased polarization. Addressing the phenomenon typically involves media literacy education, improved fact-checking, source transparency, critical-thinking training, and responsible platform design and moderation. Communicating clearly about uncertainties and providing accessible corrective information are also common strategies.

Critics of the term argue that it can stigmatize people and overlook structural factors that shape information ecosystems. Some prefer formulations that emphasize information environments or suggest degrees of misperception rather than a binary misinformed/misinformation dichotomy. See also: misinformation, disinformation, information literacy, media literacy.