Medical dis/misinformation: How do we prevent an infodemic?

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 10, 2022

Insight summary

The recent upsurge in health misinformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has reshaped public health dynamics and trust in medical authorities. This trend prompted governments and health organizations to strategize against the spread of false health information, emphasizing education and transparent communication. The evolving landscape of digital information dissemination poses new challenges and opportunities for public health policy and practice, underscoring the need for vigilant and adaptive responses.

Medical dis/misinformation context

The COVID-19 crisis led to a surge in the circulation of infographics, blog posts, videos, and commentary through social media platforms. However, a significant portion of this information was either partially accurate or entirely false. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified this phenomenon as an infodemic, characterizing it as the widespread dissemination of misleading or incorrect information during a health crisis. Misinformation influenced individuals' health decisions, swaying them towards unproven treatments or against scientifically backed vaccines.

In 2021, the spread of medical misinformation during the pandemic escalated to alarming levels. The US Office of the Surgeon General recognized this as a major public health challenge. People, often unknowingly, passed on this information to their networks, contributing to the rapid spread of these unverified claims. Additionally, numerous YouTube channels began promoting unproven and potentially harmful "cures," lacking any solid medical backing.

The impact of this misinformation not only hampered efforts to control the pandemic but also eroded public trust in health institutions and experts. In response, many organizations and governments launched initiatives to combat this trend. They focused on educating the public about identifying reliable sources and understanding the importance of evidence-based medicine. 

Disruptive impact

In 2020, the rise of public health misinformation led to a significant debate on free speech. Some Americans argued that it’s necessary to clearly define who decides whether medical information is misleading to prevent censorship and suppression of ideas. Others argued that it is essential to impose fines on sources and individuals who outrightly spread misinformation by not providing science-backed content in matters of life and death.

In 2022, a research study uncovered that Facebook's algorithm occasionally recommended content that could have influenced users' views against vaccinations. This algorithmic behavior raised concerns about the role of social media in shaping public health perceptions. Consequently, some researchers suggest that directing individuals towards trustworthy offline sources, like healthcare professionals or local health centers, could effectively counteract this spread of misinformation.

In 2021, the Social Science Research Council, a nonprofit organization, initiated The Mercury Project. This project is focused on exploring the extensive impacts of the infodemic on various aspects, such as health, economic stability, and societal dynamics in the context of the pandemic. Slated for completion in 2024, The Mercury Project aims to provide critical insights and data to governments worldwide, aiding in the formulation of effective policies to combat future infodemics.

Implications for medical dis/misinformation

Wider implications for medical dis/misinformation may include:

• Governments imposing fines on social media platforms and organizations willfully spreading misinformation.
• More vulnerable communities being targeted by rogue nation states and activist groups with medical dis/misinformation.
• The use of artificial intelligence systems to spread (as well as counteract) dis/misinformation on social media.
• Infodemics becoming more common as more people use social media as their primary source of news and information.
• Health organizations using targeted information campaigns to focus on groups that are the most vulnerable to disinformation, such as the elderly and children.
• Healthcare providers adapting their communication strategies to include digital literacy education, reducing the susceptibility of patients to medical disinformation.
• Insurance companies altering coverage policies to address the consequences of misinformation-driven health decisions, impacting both premiums and coverage terms.
• Pharmaceutical companies increasing transparency in drug development and clinical trials, aiming to build public trust and combat misinformation.

Questions to consider

• Where did you get your information during the pandemic?
• How do you ensure that the medical information you receive is truthful?
• How else can governments and healthcare institutions prevent medical dis/misinformation?