In the new digital era, the flow of information, data, and content is becoming faster and simpler. The media and public space are becoming congested with an overwhelming amount of data and content that is difficult to categorize and process. Every minute, several new posts, news items, and articles are published and reproduced, which slowly but surely leads to information overload, infodemic, and the increased difficulty in identifying fake and manipulative content from true information. Information overload is defined as a state of an individual’s exposure to an excessive amount of content, resulting in the inability to process information.
The term infodemic refers to an exceptionally large quantity of information and data about a specific topic or problem, leading to difficulties in classifying information, and consequently, difficulties in identifying potential solutions to the problem. The problem of infodemic is especially pronounced in times of crises such as the coronavirus pandemic or during wartime events and hostilities. In times of crisis, true and accurate information is crucial to prevent the development of panic and social unrest. Infodemic can create fertile ground for the spread of rumors and false information, which can hinder communication and the identification of important, true, and credible information and data from misleading, manipulative information, misinformation, and fake news. Additionally, an excessive amount of information to which an individual is exposed on a daily basis can complicate decision-making processes, thinking, and analysis, consequently leading to increased stress levels. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to use reliable and verified sources of information and content, as well as to develop information, media, and digital literacy.
On its official Facebook page, UNESCO published a video created in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides advice on reducing the potential negative effects of the infodemic: UNESCO Infodemic Video. The video emphasizes that all stakeholders play an important role in preventing the spread of misinformation. To avoid the negative impact of the infodemic, individuals should verify their sources of information and seek out credible sources and articles.
Test Your Knowledge About Infodemic and Information Overload at:
The goal of the quiz is to help users of the platform learn about the infodemic and information overload.
This quiz is designed as part of the project “Improving Fact-Checking Culture,” implemented by HUOJ in collaboration with media experts from Lider media and the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb, with financial support from the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
