Infodemic Versus Viral Information Spread: Key Differences and Open Challenges

As we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of future infodemics remains significant, driven by emerging health crises and the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in the information ecosystem. During periods of apparent stability, proactive efforts to advance infodemiology are esse...

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Veröffentlicht in:JMIR infodemiology Jg. 5; S. e57455
Hauptverfasser: Cinelli, Matteo, Gesualdo, Francesco
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Canada JMIR Publications 07.05.2025
Schlagworte:
Artificial Intelligence
Communication
Computer platforms
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
False information
Humans
Information dissemination
Information Dissemination - methods
Infoveillance, Infodemiology, Digital Disease Surveillance, Infodemic Management
Pandemics
Policy for Infodemiology and Infodemic Management
Public Health
SARS-CoV-2
Social networks
Theme Issue 2023: Exploring the Intersection Between Health Information, Misinformation, and Generative AI Technologies
Viewpoint
Viewpoints
Ukraine
infodemic
multidisciplinary
data science
misinformation
infodemiology
information spreading
AI
challenge
difference
information virality
artificial intelligence
public health
ISSN:2564-1891, 2564-1891
Online-Zugang:Volltext
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Zusammenfassung:As we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of future infodemics remains significant, driven by emerging health crises and the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in the information ecosystem. During periods of apparent stability, proactive efforts to advance infodemiology are essential for enhancing preparedness and improving public health outcomes. This requires a thorough examination of the foundations of this evolving discipline, particularly in understanding how to accurately identify an infodemic at the appropriate time and scale, and how to distinguish it from other processes of viral information spread, both within and outside the realm of public health. In this paper, we integrate expertise from data science and public health to examine the key differences between information production during an infodemic and viral information spread. We explore both clear and subtle distinctions, including context and contingency (ie, the association of an infodemic and viral information spread with a health crisis); information dynamics in terms of volume, spread, and predictability; the role of misinformation and information voids; societal impact; and mitigation strategies. By analyzing these differences, we highlight challenges and open questions. These include whether an infodemic is solely associated with pandemics or whether it could arise from other health emergencies; if infodemics are limited to health-related issues or if they could emerge from crises initially unrelated to health (like climate events); and whether infodemics are exclusively global phenomena or if they can occur on national or local scales. Finally, we propose directions for future quantitative research to help the scientific community more robustly differentiate between these phenomena and develop tailored management strategies.
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FG received an honorarium for participating in meetings by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Moderna.
ISSN:2564-1891
2564-1891
DOI:10.2196/57455