Infodemic Management in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Infodemics, an overwhelming amount of information, some accurate and some not, accompanying health emergencies have gained a spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infodemics include the questions, concerns, information voids, perceptions, behaviours, and mis-and disinformation that is circulating in a population, which can be detected, analysed, and addressed via new infodemic management interventions. We worry most about how the infodemic can affect people’s ability to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19 when it can change not just attitudes and motivation, but also behaviour. The COVID-19 infodemic has caused harm in ways we are only now learning how to measure; the consequences of promoting stigma in advocating for unsafe alternative treatments to COVID-19 vaccines, to politically motivated messaging that twists science and heightens uncertainty and fear. Infodemic management is an evidence-based practice underpinned by the science of infodemiology, much like public health practice that is underpinned by epidemiology. Health authorities are increasingly recognising the need to expand their capacities for infodemic management in their efforts to better prepare for future health emergencies and several actions can be taken to build toward a mature infodemic management process.