JMIR Infodemiology

The Covid-19 pandemic was accompanied by a barrage of false, misleading, and manipulated information that inhibited effective pandemic response and led to thousands of preventable deaths. Recognition of the urgent public health threat posed by this infodemic led to the development of numerous infodemic management interventions by a wide range of actors. The need to respond rapidly and with limited information sometimes came at the expense of strategy and conceptual rigor. Given limited funding for public health communication and growing politicization of counter-misinformation efforts, responses to future infodemics should be informed by a systematic and conceptually grounded evaluation of the successes and shortcomings of existing interventions to ensure credibility of the field and evidence-based action.

The advent of the internet has transformed the landscape of health information acquisition and sharing. Reddit has become a hub for such activities, such as the subreddit r/medical_advice, affecting patients’ knowledge and decision-making. While the popularity of these platforms is recognized, research into the interactions and content within these communities remains sparse. Understanding the dynamics of these platforms is crucial for improving online health information quality.

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the digital age and has been called the first “data-driven pandemic” in human history. The global response demonstrated that many countries had failed to effectively prepare for such an event. Learning through experience in a crisis is one way to improve the crisis management process. As the world has returned to normal after the pandemic, questions about crisis management have been raised in several countries and require careful consideration.

Detrimental effects of misinformation were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, amid Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, another wave of misinformation is spreading on the web and impacting our daily lives, with many citizens and politicians embracing Russian propaganda narratives. Despite the lack of an objective connection between these 2 societal issues, anecdotal observations suggest that supporters of misinformation regarding COVID-19 (BM-C) have also adopted misinformation about the war in Ukraine (BM-U) while sharing similar media use patterns and political attitudes.

Vulvodynia is a chronic vulvar pain condition affecting up to 25% of the US population. However, diagnosis and effective treatment remain elusive. Many individuals with vulvodynia face stigma and medical uncertainty, leading them to seek information and support online. Reddit is a popular social media platform where patients discuss health concerns and share experiences. The anonymity and accessibility of this platform make it a valuable source of real-world patient perspectives that are often overlooked in clinical settings.

Bipolar is a severe mental health condition affecting at least 2% of the global population, with clinical observations suggesting that individuals experiencing elevated mood states, such as mania or hypomania, may have an increased propensity for engaging in risk-taking behaviors, including hypersexuality. Hypersexuality has historically been stigmatized in society and in health care provision, which makes it more difficult for service users to talk about their behaviors. There is a need for greater understanding of hypersexuality to develop better evidence-based treatment, support, and training for health professionals.

Hikikomori syndrome is a form of severe social withdrawal prevalent in Japan but is also a worldwide psychiatric issue. Twitter (subsequently rebranded X) offers valuable insights into personal experiences with mental health conditions, particularly among isolated individuals or hard-to-reach populations.

Many people seek health-related information online. The significance of reliable information became particularly evident due to the potential dangers of misinformation. Therefore, discerning true and reliable information from false information has become increasingly challenging.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people sought information from websites and social media. Understanding the extent to which these sources were trusted is important in relation to health communication.

Health misinformation, prevalent in social media, poses a significant threat to individuals, particularly those dealing with serious illnesses such as cancer. The current recommendations for users on how to avoid cancer misinformation are challenging because they require users to have research skills.

The challenge of extracting meaningful patterns from the overwhelming noise of social media to guide decision-makers remains largely unresolved.

The worldwide effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been profound, and the Arab world has not been exempt from its wide-ranging consequences. Within this context, social media platforms such as Twitter have become essential for sharing information and expressing public opinions during this global crisis. Careful investigation of Arabic tweets related to COVID-19 can provide invaluable insights into the common topics and underlying sentiments that shape discussions about the COVID-19 pandemic.