An infographic is a group of data visualizations that tell a story. They are used to communicate, educate and inform. A data visualization is a visual representation of data or information. 

In a world where data is everywhere and there is a ton of it, data visuals and infographics are vital for sharing information with individuals to process and understand large sums of data. 

Infographics are important because it makes information more accessible to more people. Awareness can be spread about important issues like climate change, public health issues, or social issues. 

https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/our-warming-world-how-much-difference-will-half-degree-really-make

Elements of a good data visualization are that they are proportional, truthful, and accurate. They have clear and correct labels and titles that correctly represent the data. They also have elements of good design such as the use of color and negative space, which makes the infographic digestible and understandable. Better yet, the design can relate to the story told by the data.  

While there are many benefits of infographics, there have been many instances where data has been distorted. 

Data distortion is an issue when it comes to infographics. Consumers of the information can be misled by distorted data, and as a result, contribute to the spread of mis-information. 

Designers of infographics must be sure to accurately represent the data so as not to include their own biases. It is essential for data visuals to be truthful and proportional.

One example of an instance where infographics are often misleading is in election maps. In the 2020 presidential election, maps showing counties in the United States as either red or blue, depending on how the county voted. 

On social media, many debated that it wasn’t possible for democrats to have won when the majority of counties turned red. But of course, land doesn’t vote.

According to Popular Science, “Many of the largest states by area have relatively low population densities, and thus fewer people and fewer electoral college votes. Geographically accurate maps, therefore, overemphasize the electoral importance of physically big states.” 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1326602653762203649

Ultimately, infographics, when designed precisely, have the ability to create awareness on important issues. But when information is distorted, infographics have the ability to mislead and misinform people, which leads to the spread of misinformation.