Infodemic (information + epidemic)
“Infoidemic” (information + epidemic) is a portmanteau word that Wiktionary defines as “An excessive amount of information concerning a problem such that the solution is made more difficult.” The term was printed in the Washington (DC) Post on May 11, 2003, in an article by David Rothkopf, chairman and CEO of Intellibridge Corp.
“Infoidemic” was popularized by the World Health Organization on February 2, 2020, during the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak.
Wiktionary: infodemic
Etymology
Blend of information + epidemic
Noun
infodemic (plural infodemics)
1. (informal) An excessive amount of information concerning a problem such that the solution is made more difficult.
11 May 2003, Washington (DC) Post, “When the Buzz Bites Back” by David J. Rothkopf, p. B1:
What is more, the information epidemic—or “infodemic”—has made the public health crisis harder to control and contain.
What exactly do I mean by the “infodemic”? A few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumor, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies, have affected national and international economies, politics and even security in ways that are utterly disproportionate with the root realities. It is a phenomenon we have seen with greater frequency in recent years—not only in our reaction to SARS, for example, but also in our response to terrorism and even to relatively minor occurrences such as shark sightings.
(...)
David Rothkopf is chairman and CEO of Intellibridge Corp., which provides open-source intelligence and analysis, and is a member of the Health Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins/Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Newspapers.com
18 May 2003, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), pg. O-1, col. 1 headline:
SARS, fear, rumors feed unprecedented ‘infodemic’
By DAVID J. ROTHKOPF
Newspapers.com
18 May 2003, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), pg. O-6, col. 1 headline:
Infodemic: SARS-fed fears, rumors, technology fuel overreaction
Google Groups: talk.politics.china
Infodemic: free speech and the culture of fear
ltlee1
3/14/05
Sommerville had written how American daily news had made Americans dumb. The media in the age of infodemic are often harzardous to the health according to Richard Restake, M.D.
Twitter
SeaWorld San Antonio
@SeaWorldTexas
Listening to Cherenson of PRSA natl on value of a company’s reputation and the impact of the “infodemic.”
1:53 PM · Nov 6, 2008·Twitter SMS
Twitter
PRSA Dallas
@prsadallas
Infodemic = interaction of all media (social, mainstream, text, etc) A flow of info.
1:35 PM · Apr 10, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Dan McGinnity
@DanMcGinnity
Swine Flu; be prepared; not panicked, according to Travel Association. Don’t create an “infodemic” similar to Sars, Bird Flu…
3:45 PM · Apr 27, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Dr Sylvie Briand
@SCBriand
Same for epidemics, we always have to deal with the infodemic ( epidemic of rumors and misinformation) which is amplified through social media.
@Nyka_eh
Quote Tweet
Seth Berkley
@GaviSeth
· Sep 5, 2019
A fascinating piece in @SciAm exploring how misinformation spreads in a community. Tackling vaccine hesitancy is about so much more than giving people the facts - there are complex social dynamics at play that must be considered.
#VaccinesWork http://ow.ly/fpKh50vWbSg
10:52 AM · Sep 6, 2019·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN News)
@newhumanitarian
In addition to battling Ebola, the response has had to contend with an ‘infodemic’ of rumours and misinformation that continues to spread on WhatsApp and beyond.
In Congo’s Ebola zone, misinformation persists even as cases slow
Progress has been made in containing the virus, but community trust remains low, and rumours continue to circulate fast on platforms like WhatsApp.
thenewhumanitarian.org
6:45 PM · Jan 15, 2020·Buffer
Twitter
CNN Philippines
@cnnphilippines
DOH cautions against ‘infodemic,’ or the spread of false information about reported cases of #WuhanCoronavirus in PH
10:02 PM · Jan 26, 2020·TweetDeck
Twitter
The Philippine Star
@PhilippineStar
Infodemic: Fake News More Viral ThanThe New Virus; 10 Persons Under Probe https://bit.ly/36zjUYO | via
@onenewsph
8:28 PM · Jan 27, 2020·TweetDeck
World Health Organization
Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV)
Situation Report - 13
Data as reported by 2 February 2020*
(...)
Managing the 2019-nCoV ‘infodemic’
The 2019-nCoV outbreak and response has been accompanied by a massive ‘infodemic’ - an over-abundance of
information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable
guidance when they need it.
Due to the high demand for timely and trustworthy information about 2019-nCoV, WHO technical risk
communication and social media teams have been working closely to track and respond to myths and rumours.
Through its headquarters in Geneva, its six regional offices and its partners, the Organization is working 24 hours a
day to identify the most prevalent rumours that can potentially harm the public’s health, such as false prevention
measures or cures. These myths are then refuted with evidence-based information. WHO is making public health
information and advice on the 2019-nCoV, including myth busters, available on its social media channels (including
Weibo, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest) and website.
Twitter
FormOnePlanet
@GibboPK
Replying to @ClaudiaKoerner and @JaneLytv
“infodemic”
I like it.
Goes with my “infotainment”
description of modern tv news.
7:07 PM · Feb 2, 2020·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Trish Hurst
@TrishRooney4
Replying to @WHO and @SCBriand
I’ve learned a new word today. #infodemic, an epidemic of information
5:35 AM · Feb 4, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
onisillos sekkides
@onisillos
Did @WHO coin the term infodemic? Or is it older?
GIF
1:55 AM · Feb 7, 2020 from Camden Town, London·Twitter for iPhone
BBC News
WHO says fake coronavirus claims causing ‘infodemic’
By Zoe Thomas
Technology reporter
13 February 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging tech companies to take tougher action to battle fake news on the coronavirus.
The push comes as a representative from the WHO travelled to Silicon Valley to speak directly to tech firms about the spread of false information.
The WHO has labelled the spread of fake news on the outbreak an “infodemic”.