covidiots (misinformation)

Editorial Overview

• Title: COVID Infodemic is turning public into Covidiots: What can be done?

• Authors: Neeta Kumar (Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia) & Sanjiv Kumar (Chairperson, Indian Academy of Public Health)

• Correspondence: Dr. Sanjiv Kumar, New Delhi, Email: drsanjivkumardixit@gmail.com

• Citation: Kumar N, Kumar S. 2021. Indian J Comm Health. 33(2):236-238.

• Conflict of Interest: None declared.

• Publication Details: Received 10/06/2021; Accepted 25/06/2021; Published 30/06/2021

• Funding: Nil

• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Introduction

• The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems globally.

• Governments and scientific bodies aim to provide authentic information to educate the public on preventative measures.

• This is the first pandemic using social media and digital technology as key information sources.

The Infodemic Problem

• Misinformation: Defined as false or misleading information transmitted without intent to deceive.

• With improved access to social media, misinformation spreads rapidly (e.g., Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook).

• COVID-19 related mentions vastly surpass those of other diseases (1.1 billion for COVID-19 vs. millions for Ebola, MERS, HIV, and SARS).

• Infodemiology: A discipline studying the impact of misinformation during the pandemic.

The Role of Authorities

• The Indian Government advised social media to curb misinformation since March 2020.

• The exponential user growth on social media (142.2 million in 2015 to 376.1 million in 2020) makes it a prominent information source.

Misinformation's Impact

• Creates fears, impacting public behavior negatively toward health measures.

• Numerous negative events reported due to misinformation, including violence and stigma towards suspected COVID-19 victims.

• Media plays a crucial role in empowering public response through accurate information dissemination.

Characteristics of Misinformation

• Often comes as baseless claims aiming to mislead or stir controversy.

• Details often twisted to support specific narratives, regardless of factual accuracy.

• Major social media platforms must be vigilant in controlling false content effectively.

Addressing Misinformation

1. Check the Source: Confirm reputable origin of the information.

2. Cross-reference: Verify if credible media outlets have reported it.

3. Evidence Analysis: Look for credible evidence supporting the claims.

4. Detect Fake Content: Be wary of altered images or misrepresented research.

5. Plausibility Assessment: Use common sense to evaluate whether information seems believable.

Call to Action for Authorities

• If misinformation is identified, authorities should swiftly provide correct information, applying legal frameworks under the Epidemic Act 1897 and National Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Conclusion

• Misinformation significantly harms public health response efforts.

• Proactive measures are critical for managing infodemic influences on public behavior and trust in health institutions.

• Addressing misinformation is crucial to successful epidemic control strategies.