{"id":346,"date":"2020-10-11T13:38:30","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T13:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpmu.mau.se\/nmict202group1\/?p=346"},"modified":"2020-11-05T21:40:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T21:40:48","slug":"the-pandemic-and-the-infodemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmu.mau.se\/nmict202group1\/2020\/10\/11\/the-pandemic-and-the-infodemic\/","title":{"rendered":"The pandemic and the infodemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In my first blogpost<\/a><\/span><\/strong> the overall topic was the right to information in sustainable development and I touched upon the importance of the right to correct <\/em>information, especially in times of crisis. The ongoing Covid 19 pandemic is not only a health emergency \u2013 it\u2019s also a communication emergency. It\u2019s an infodemic<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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\u201dAs soon as the virus spread across the globe, inaccurate and even dangerous messages proliferated wildly over social media, leaving people confused, misled and ill-advised.<\/em><\/p>\n

The antidote lies in making sure that science-backed facts and health guidance circulate even faster, and reach people wherever they access information.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What is an Infodemic?<\/span><\/h3>\n

In a joint statement published by WHO (2020) it is described as \u201can overabundance of information, both online and offline. It includes deliberate attempts to disseminate wrong information to undermine the public health response and advance alternative agendas of groups or individuals. Mis- and disinformation can be harmful to people\u2019s physical and mental health; increase stigmatization; threaten precious health gains; and lead to poor observance of public health measures, thus reducing their effectiveness and endangering countries\u2019 ability to stop the pandemic”<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The term infodemic is not new but the speed of the information is. In the digital channels Covid 19 infodemic spread in realtime and reaches further and faster than in other epidemics.<\/p>\n

According to WHO the Covid 19 crisis the first pandemic in history where technology and social media play a massive role in keeping people informed, safe and connected. This is not a surprise since we live in a digital age. However, the same set of technology is amplifying and enabling an infodemic and are impeding global response and stirring unrest. According to Eriksen (2014)\u00a0speed<\/em> is an important feature of globalization and that is definitely a factor here. The virus is spreading fast and also the communication around it, for better and for worse.<\/p>\n

The UN has called upon all member states to develop and implement science and evidence-based action plans to mitigate the harm from misinformation and disinformation. And below I will provide an example of what the UN did themselves.<\/p>\n

The Verified initiative<\/h3>\n

In May 2020 the UN launched the\u00a0Verified initiative<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>The team of researchers and communicators working with the initiative are creating content based on the latest facts and information generated by the World Health Organization, United Nation and other UN agencies. On this platform there is also content about the risks of misinformation and the spread of it. This to promote facts and science, solutions and also to inspire solidarity. The initiative provides content in nine different languages.<\/p>\n

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