Social science approaches to infodemiology: understanding the social, political, and economic context of information

Jennifer Cole; Olivia  Tulloch; Megan  Schimdt-Sane; Tabitha Hrynick; Santiago Ripoll

doi:10.1177/17579759211073174

Social science approaches to infodemiology: understanding the social, political, and economic context of information

Jennifer Cole
, Olivia Tulloch
, Megan Schimdt-Sane
, Tabitha Hrynick
, Santiago Ripoll

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Embedded within the COVID-19 pandemic is the spread of a new pandemic of information – some accurate, some not – that can challenge the public health response. This has been termed an ‘infodemic’ and infodemic management is now a major feature of the World Health Organization’s work on health emergencies. This commentary highlights political, social, and economic aspects of infodemics and posits social science as critical to mitigating the current infodemic and preventing future ones. Infodemic managers should address the wider context of infodemics if we are to understand narratives, help to craft positive ones, and confront the root causes of misinformation rather than just the symptoms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	140-144
Number of pages	5
Journal	Global Health Promotion
Volume	29
Issue number	3
Early online date	11 Mar 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/17579759211073174
Publication status	Published - 11 Mar 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 4 Quality Education

Keywords

Infodemiology
Social Science
COVID-19

Access to Document

10.1177/17579759211073174

Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 60.6 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Safe Space During COVID-19: Online forums as places of community, knowledge exchange and safety
Cole, J., 16 Dec 2025, The Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Consequences. Johnson, E. J. (ed.). 1 ed. Cambridge Scholars, p. 155 179 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Cite this

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title = "Social science approaches to infodemiology: understanding the social, political, and economic context of information",

abstract = "Embedded within the COVID-19 pandemic is the spread of a new pandemic of information – some accurate, some not – that can challenge the public health response. This has been termed an {\textquoteleft}infodemic{\textquoteright} and infodemic management is now a major feature of the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s work on health emergencies. This commentary highlights political, social, and economic aspects of infodemics and posits social science as critical to mitigating the current infodemic and preventing future ones. Infodemic managers should address the wider context of infodemics if we are to understand narratives, help to craft positive ones, and confront the root causes of misinformation rather than just the symptoms.",

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AU - Schimdt-Sane, Megan

AU - Hrynick, Tabitha

AU - Ripoll, Santiago

PY - 2022/3/11

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N2 - Embedded within the COVID-19 pandemic is the spread of a new pandemic of information – some accurate, some not – that can challenge the public health response. This has been termed an ‘infodemic’ and infodemic management is now a major feature of the World Health Organization’s work on health emergencies. This commentary highlights political, social, and economic aspects of infodemics and posits social science as critical to mitigating the current infodemic and preventing future ones. Infodemic managers should address the wider context of infodemics if we are to understand narratives, help to craft positive ones, and confront the root causes of misinformation rather than just the symptoms.

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KW - Social Science

KW - COVID-19

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DO - 10.1177/17579759211073174

M3 - Article

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JO - Global Health Promotion

JF - Global Health Promotion

IS - 3

ER -

Social science approaches to infodemiology: understanding the social, political, and economic context of information

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Research output

Safe Space During COVID-19: Online forums as places of community, knowledge exchange and safety

Cite this