An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are still happening and are considered a significant public health threat.
The term “infodemic” gained notoriety in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was so much information floating around that it was hard to know what was true and what to do to best protect the health of ourselves and our communities. Some of that information was good but a ton was absolute junk! Combating the infodemic was one of the reasons Those Nerdy Girls came into being!
Infodemics can be fueled by well-meaning folks trying to share information but they also present ample opportunity for misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Misinformation is false, incomplete, or inaccurate information. It’s just straight up wrong. Disinformation is when incorrect information is deliberately intended to mislead someone. Malinformation is when true information is exaggerated or used out of context with the intent to mislead, harm, attack, or manipulate.
Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation spread like wildfire on social media and can drown out reliable information sources. People are more likely to share (and believe) misinformation, especially when it aligns with their personal beliefs or cultural norms, when it feels new and exciting, or when it elicits strong emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety. Social media platforms amplify misinformation because it generates more likes, shares, and views. Misinformation is rarely boring! Unlike traditional news sources, there is not as much fact-checking and viral peer-to-peer spread allows for the development of media “echo chambers,” reinforcing specific views and spreading falsehoods without the opportunity for factual correction.
What can we do to navigate an infodemic?
- Find and utilize trusted resources, like Those Nerdy Girls. 😉
- Use the CRAAP method to evaluate information. What is the currency (is the information up to date)? What is the relevance to me and my question? Who is the author and what are their credentials? Is this accurate and supported by evidence? What is the author’s purpose or motivation for sharing this information?
- Look outside of your echo chamber and participate in lateral reading. When we see information coming through our usual social media networks, take a look at other trusted resources to see if it is confirmed and what evidence (if any) is backing that claim.
- Slow down and give yourself time to evaluate the content. We are more prone to cognitive biases, including errors in judgement and decision making, when we are moving quickly through information.
- Use tried and true strategies to spot misinformation.
- Take news and information breaks. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed in an infodemic. Taking some time away from it all to rest, recuperate, and refresh our minds can help us sift through it all.
How can I stop the spread of misinformation and reduce the infodemic?
- Think before you link! Before hitting like or share on that tantalizing headline, actually open the link and find out what it really says and if it is accurate. Increasing opportunities to view false claims and creating repetition of that information increases belief in those claims. This is called the illusory truth effect.
- Participate in prebunking and debunking. Prebunking is when we make people aware in advance that they might be misled and give them an effective “heads up” for incoming misinformation. Debunking is when we expose a claim as being false or exaggerated.
- Tell a truth sandwich: fact-fallacy-fact. Start by stating a factually true statement, then clearly identify the incorrect claim as a fallacy, and end by reinforcing the correct information to solidify understanding.
- Listen critically but empathetically. A lot of misinformation spread stems from fear or anger. Find out what might be driving that emotion and address it head-on! We are more likely to change minds and promote truth when we recognize how someone else is feeling and make that human connection.
In summary, infodemics are real and harmful. It is up to all of us to ensure that we are good consumers of information and avoid spreading misinformation.
