Managing Infodemics in the 21st Century: Addressing New Public Health Challenges in the Information Ecosystem

Description

This open access book on infodemic management reviews the current discussions about this evolving area of public health from a variety of perspectives. Infodemic management is an evidence-based practice underpinned by the science of infodemiology that offers guidance to better manage pandemic and epidemic risks and more quickly tackle new and resurgent health threats. Infodemic management has added much visibility and recognition for the importance of social-behavioural sciences, health communication, participatory and human-centered approaches, and digital health as complementary scientific and practical approaches that also must be strengthened in public health practice through a whole-of-society and whole information ecosystem approach. This volume makes a case that health of the information ecosystem in the digital age has emerged as the fourth ecosystem that public health is challenged by, along with the triad of environment-human-animal health.  The book brings together scientists and practitioners across disciplines to offer insights on infodemic management. The tools, methods, analytics, and interventions that they discuss in the context of acute health events also can be applied to other public health areas. Topics covered include: People's Experience of Information Overload and Its Impact on Infodemic HarmsSmart Health! Expanding the Need for New LiteraciesTo Debunk or Not to Debunk? Correcting (Mis)informationPartnering with Communities for Effective Management of Health Emergencies Managing Infodemics in the 21st Century is required reading for public health practitioners in need of an overview of this evolving field of practice that has made major scientific and practical leaps forward since early 2020. Global, regional, and local health authorities are increasingly recognizing the need to expand their capacities for infodemic management in their efforts to better prepare for future health emergencies. This book is the resource they need to build toward a mature infodemic management process. The text also can be used as supplemental reading for graduate programs and courses in public health. Acknowledgements Contents Contents About the Editors Contributors Abbreviations Chapter 1: Infodemic Management in the Twenty-First Century 1.1 Definition of an Infodemic and the Evolving Information Ecosystem 1.1.1 Characteristics of an Infodemic 1.2 Potential Harms Caused by Infodemics 1.3 The Importance of Trust in Epidemic and Pandemic Response 1.3.1 Trust and Science During Epidemics 1.3.2 Trust and Communities 1.4 Strategies to Manage Infodemics During Health Crises 1.5 Tips to Implement Infodemic Management 1.6 Conclusion References Chapter 2: Key Concepts and Definitions in Infodemic Management 2.1 Introduction: Overview of WHO Infodemic Management Framework 2.2 Social Listening and Infodemic Insights – Questions, Concerns, Narratives, and Misinformation 2.3 Delivering High-Quality Health Information and Programming 2.4 Intervening Through Design, Implementation, and Evaluation 2.5 Promoting and Supporting Resilience, Health Behaviours, and Community Engagement 2.6 Strengthening Preparedness, Planning, Policy, and Systems References Chapter 3: People’s Experience of Information Overload and Its Impact on Infodemic Harms 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Public Health Challenge of Information Overload 3.3 Overload: Emergency and Risk Communications Approaches 3.3.1 Emergency Response Approaches 3.3.2 Risk Communication Approaches 3.3.3 Existing Limitations 3.4 Understanding Information Overload 3.4.1 Emotional States 3.4.2 Material Affordances and Constraints 3.4.3 Social Affordances and Constraints 3.4.4 Behavioural Responses 3.5 Information Overload: an Infodemic Management Approach 3.6 Conclusion References Chapter 4: The Information Environment and Its Influence on Misinformation Effects 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Information Environment 4.3 Challenges Posed by the Modern Information Ecosystem 4.3.1 Asynchronous Nature of Information Environments 4.3.2 Difficulties of Researching the Information Environment 4.3.3 Cross-Border Disinformation Flows 4.4 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Fighting the Fallacies: The ‘Infodemic’ and the European Commission 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Three Pillars of the EU’s Disinformation Fighting Operation 5.3 Evolution of the Infodemic 5.3.1 Narratives Before Vaccine Rollout Initial Response 5.3.2 Narratives After Vaccine Roll Out 5.4 The Infodemic for the EU 5.4.1 Where 5.4.2 What 5.4.3 Why 5.5 Response to Vaccine Mis- and Disinformation 5.5.1 European External Action Service 5.5.2 Working with the Private Sector – DG CNECT 5.5.3 Network Against Disinformation 5.6 Questions Posed by the Infodemic 5.7 A New Mandate for the Network 5.8 Results 5.9 Lessons Learnt 5.10 Conclusion References Chapter 6: Smart Health! Expanding the Need for New Literacies 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Smart Health! 6.2.1 eHealth 6.2.2 mHealth 6.2.3 Building Capacity: Opportunities and Challenges in the Information Age 6.3 New Competencies to Accommodate Health in the Twenty-First Century 6.3.1 Health Literacy 6.3.2 Digital Literacy 6.3.3 Information Literacy 6.3.4 Media Literacy 6.3.5 Science Literacy 6.4 Expanding Capacity to Enhance Multiple Literacies 6.5 Conclusion References Chapter 7: To Debunk or Not to Debunk? Correcting (Mis)Information 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Prioritising Corrections 7.2.1 Misinformation Source 7.2.2 Misinformation Audience 7.2.3 Misinformation Content 7.3 How to Correct: REACT 7.3.1 Repetition 7.3.2 Empathy 7.3.3 Alternative Explanation 7.3.4 Credible Source 7.3.5 Timeliness 7.4 Beyond Corrections: Proactive Approaches to Misinformation 7.4.1 Promoting High-Quality Information 7.4.2 Prebunking 7.4.3 Literacy Interventions 7.4.4 Platform-Led Interventions and Technocognition 7.5 Conclusion References Chapter 8: Prebunking Against Misinformation in the Modern Digital Age 8.1 Beyond Fact-Checking: Tackling the Infodemic 8.2 Inoculation Theory: A Vaccine Against Persuasion 8.2.1 Initial Vaccines Against Specific Misinformation 8.2.2 A Broad-Spectrum Vaccine Through Gamification 8.2.3 Testing the Efficacy of Inoculation Games 8.3 Criticisms of the Initial Game Studies 8.3.1 The Use of Randomised Research Designs 8.3.2 Long-Term Effectiveness of Inoculation 8.4 Applications and Herd Iimmunity 8.4.1 Policy Applications of Inoculation Theory 8.4.2 Can Inoculation Spread? 8.5 Conclusion References Chapter 9: Addressing Mis- and Disinformation on Social Media 9.1 Introduction 9.2 What Is a “Disinfodemic”? 9.3 International Standards on Freedom of Expression 9.3.1 Alignment with International Human Rights Standards and Sustainable Development 9.4 Responses to Counter Mis- and Disinformation 9.4.1 Actions Taken by Governments 9.4.2 Actions Taken by Social Media Companies 9.4.3 Actions Taken by Civil Society 9.5 Long-Term Solutions to Mis- and Disinformation Online 9.5.1 Research Needs 9.5.2 Supporting Journalism 9.5.3 Media and Information Literacy 9.5.4 Transparency 9.6 Conclusion References Chapter 10: Partnering with Communities for Effective Management of Health Emergencies: Four Case Studies 10.1 Introduction 10.2 A. Schneider: Lessons from Social Marketing (Case Study 1) 10.2.1 Voluntary Exchange 10.2.2 Factors Influencing Behaviour 10.2.3 Appealing to Who People Are 10.3 R. Umamaheshwari: ‘Pandemic’ Times and a Hill Village of Himachal Pradesh State, India (Case Study 2) 10.3.1 Nature and Habitat 10.3.2 Community Cohesion and Human Bonds 10.3.3 The e-Learning ‘Infodemic’ and Consumerism 10.3.4 Autonomy and Dignity of the Body 10.3.5 The Last Mile Walker/Worker 10.4 P.D. Akana: Strengthening Community Engagement Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Cameroon (Case Study 3) 10.5 J. N. Anoko: Effective Partnership with Communities to Rebuild an Ebola Treatment Centre (Case Study 4) 10.5.1 Method 10.5.2 Results 10.5.3 Conclusion References Index