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.

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