By Jake Heerman
Misinformation also known as “false information” is “inaccurate information…intended to deceive.” (Oxford Language Dictionary) This form of information can be dangerous especially when used with health knowledge and guidance. The issue with misinformation can be understood with a quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman, “Most people aren’t true believers in the lies or the facts about health issues; they are in a muddled middle…The public’s uncertainty leaves them vulnerable to misinformation but is also the opportunity to combat it.” (KFF Misinformation Poll). This citation conveys that with the existence of truth and lies, it’s hard to distinguish which information can help or harm you.
The increased presence of social media has made misinformation spread like wildfire. Social media consumes our lives daily. The desire for health-related information has increased since COVID-19. (HHS) Social media allows for the instantaneous spread of information regardless of its credibility or accuracy.
At the height of the pandemic, (Weekly) death rates reached almost 26,000 in October 2020 according to the CDC statistics. As of May 25, 2024, the total deaths related to COVID-19 are at a whopping 1,191,702 (CDC). The rollercoaster ride of the pandemic changed the world as we knew it. How we interact with each other, our opinions on health, and how we share information in a market flooded with deception.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for health misinformation. The pandemic caused chaos and confusion. The tough times brought tougher questions with impossible answers. The knowledge sought by our communities was like “nailing jelly to a wall”. Something that seemed impossible due to our lack of details on this new and ever-changing disease. In the early stages of the pandemic, little knowledge of the origin of the disease and how to protect yourself from it was available. The world’s greatest minds worked together to aid the outbreak, but even then, the correct information got lost in the plethora of misinformation. Social media was powered by factors such as politics and extremism. The necessary news got lost in the void of misinformation and divided our society.
To vaccine or not vaccine? That is the question. Republican or Democrat, positive or negative, misguided or advised. The factors at play during the pandemic led to the spread of misinformation. That said, the role of social media during this challenging time also did more harm than good. The need for information was of the utmost importance, but so was the sharing of it. Who could share first and how could they reach an audience that would listen? This is still the case today. The presence of COVID-19 has settled though health misinformation is still running rapidly in the timelines and feeds of knowledge-seeking individuals. This epidemic started with the toilet paper crisis but has spread like an infectious disease. There is a need for protection against this new plague, social (media) distancing, misinformation vaccines, or masks. what is the solution to our next pandemic?
Social media is a privilege that we must take seriously. We have an audience at our fingertips. It’s the ability to share stories and memories. It’s a place to like and follow like-minded people. It’s also a platform for hate and violence. Understanding the power you possess with social media should aid you in the usage of it. Uncle Ben said to Spiderman, “ With great power comes great responsibility”. This couldn’t be further from the truth with the superpowers of social media. We as the users of social media have a responsibility to share truths along with our opinions. This is especially vital when it comes to those individuals who have large audiences or credibility. A scholarly article written by Stefano Di Sotto and Marco Viviani covers many ideas that could prevent the spread of misinformation. “methods based on the use of tools designed to allow any user to be able to distinguish information from misinformation even without prior medical knowledge.” (Health Misinformation Detection). This tool can help inform the users that the information they are receiving is opinion rather than fact. As an Instagram user, I have seen this kind of tool being used before.
We aren’t like Spiderman, swinging from building to building honing super strength. Our health is volatile and precious, and therefore should not be left in the hands of untrustworthy people who intend to misguide us. Technology can help us separate truth from inaccurate information aiding us in our health knowledge search.
The goal of this blog is to share how to be informed correctly about health. I introduced the term misinformation in a way to inform the reader about its presence. There isn’t a way to get rid of misinformation, but there is a way to reveal it and avoid it. First, as a distributor of information, you must only share what you know to be truth or fact. Second, as the receiver of information, you must seek credible sources. The checklist below leaves out the most important aspect which is bias, affliction, or opinions. Health shouldn’t be determined by red or blue, but rather credible or not. Health isn’t politically affiliated and therefore should not be disregarded by what side the author is on, but rather their credentials, education, and knowledge. Be the change we so desperately need in the health media. Use this Health Misinformation Checklist to better navigate health-related information reported by the media.
