Misinfodemics, a term coined in 2018 by Meedan researchers, is a phenomenon in which online health misinformation contributes to the spread of real world disease.
The Lab’s new report notes that at both individual and population levels, low-quality online content about health topics can influence vaccination rates and herd immunity, the appropriate use of antibiotics and treatment regimens, the adoption of response efforts in epidemics, and access to care for serious illnesses.
The impact that this is having on population health suggests it is critical and urgent to re-think and innovate around the way we approach health misinformation.
