Flattening the Infodemic Curve and Why

False news intrudes on our screens every day, especially if we visit poorly-regulated sites. Some of it is a deliberate attempt to alter our thinking, but without admitting it. Other posts are by people who genuinely misunderstand the truth. There are shades of grey between. However both types of broadcasters rely on us, their foot soldiers to spread the information. It’s time to start flattening the infodemic curve, and that means all of us now.

This has Become Critical with The COVID Pandemic

We need to know the truth about the coronavirus, and how to manage it. Either it is dangerous, or it is not. It can’t be both surely? World Health Organization published tips to help us judge COVID-19 news as true or false. We believe we should use these ideas, regardless of what we want to believe.

1… Who originated the information? Are they credible experts, how do we know they are legitimate, what’s their reputation.

2… Read the entire piece, not just the headline. Is the content logical? Does it make sense in terms of other information available?

3… Is this news recent, or is it old information dressed up to suit the publisher’s purpose. Does it belong in the current situation?

4… Does the publisher provide supporting information from credible sources we can trust? How much hard evidence is there we can check?

5… We enter every day with our own personal biases. Do we want to believe the information because it suits us, or do we reject it without thinking?

Flattening the Infodemic Curve in the Data Maze

Most topics in the information pandemic are shades of grey, depending on the motive of the provider. Real information is accurate in terms of current knowledge. Misinformation, on the other hand is deliberately false, often with the intent to hurt others.

The third category is disinformation, which serves the agenda of the publisher and can be hard to spot. We’ll end this post here. Let’s fight this movement. Let’s start flattening the infodemic curve now.