Misleading Your Audience: A Guide – Part 1

One of the easiest ways to mislead an audience is by manipulating axis scaling.

In this facet plot, all regions share the same Y-axis range, which means Syria (with the highest refugee count) dictates the scale.

In first row, we see the immense scale of displacement in Syria and Afghanistan

But in 2nd row, regions like Sudan and Congo appear to show only minor fluctuations

But is it really the case in these countries!?

Let’s take these one by one by comparing their facet vs individual plots

When we compare mini plot from faceted chart (y-axis in millions) against individually scaled chart where the y-axis is now in thousands.

You will see striking difference in visual representation of the refugee crisis in each of these regions, after the y-axis scale is adjusted.

What happened to the Rohingyas in Myanmar in August 2017?

Civil wars in Sudan

Is your diamond ethically sourced?

Do you know which countries have the highest hunger levels according to the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI)?

This is just an instance where visualizations can be manipulated to fit one’s story

Deliberately not rectifying the misleading Y-axis scaling can show the worst humanitarian crisis as just a flat line on a chart, or overhype a small, insignificant change as a dramatic shift.

Also, this was just an example, you can adopt this to scaremonger your audience to not get vaccinated.

To ditch their carbohydrates completely.

Throw away their aluminium utensils.

And persuade them to discontinue their anxiety medications and so on…