WHO Review Finds Infodemics and Misinformation Harm Public Health Behaviors

In a comprehensive new analysis published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, researchers have found that health misinformation spreading online can significantly harm public health outcomes, particularly during crisis situations. The systematic review examined 31 published studies focused on health-related fake news, misinformation, and disinformation across digital platforms.

The review makes a clear distinction between misinformation—false information intended to deceive—and disinformation, which additionally encompasses misleading content, biased information, manipulated narratives, and propaganda. Researchers undertook this extensive analysis to identify effective countermeasures against the negative public health impacts of false health information.

Social media platforms serve as primary vectors for health misinformation, according to the findings. “Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram are critical in disseminating the rapid and far-reaching spread of information,” the researchers note. The consequences of such misinformation include misinterpretation of scientific knowledge, opinion polarization, increased panic, and reduced healthcare access.

The prevalence of health misinformation online is striking. Among posts about vaccines, up to 51% contained misinformation. For COVID-19-related content, nearly 28.8% of posts contained false information. During pandemic discussions, misinformation rates reached as high as 60%. YouTube videos about emerging infectious diseases weren’t immune either, with 20-30% containing inaccurate or misleading information.

The research highlights that smartphone access has accelerated the spread of health misinformation during emergencies. “During crises such as infectious disease outbreaks and disasters, the overproduction of data from multiple sources, the quality of the information and the speed at which new information is disseminated create social and health-related impacts,” the report states.

Public health consequences have been substantial, with researchers noting that unreliable health information “amplifies vaccine hesitancy and promotes unproven treatments.” The review also found that exposure to health misinformation generates mental, social, political, and economic distress during health emergencies and humanitarian crises.

However, the news isn’t entirely negative. Eight of the reviewed studies reported positive outcomes from social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. These platforms sometimes generated improved knowledge, increased compliance with health recommendations, and fostered more positive health behaviors compared to traditional information dissemination methods.

The researchers identified several promising strategies to combat health misinformation. Health professionals and experts are well-positioned to refute false claims and direct users to evidence-based sources. Other countermeasures include public awareness campaigns, creating reliable information platforms, incorporating scientific evidence in mass media health content, and improving media and health literacy among the general public.

“Promoting and disseminating trustworthy health information is crucial for governments, health authorities, researchers, and clinicians to outweigh false or misleading health information disseminated in social media,” the study emphasizes.

The researchers call for coordinated responses at local, national, and international levels. They also recommend additional research to evaluate which formats and channels work best for different populations and cultural contexts. Future studies should focus on developing and testing computer-driven interventions against health misinformation while finding ways to share accurate health content without message distortion.

As digital platforms continue to serve as critical information sources during health crises, this research underscores the urgent need for evidence-based strategies to combat the infodemic problem that increasingly accompanies public health emergencies around the world.