Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty
This debate examines the impact of infodemics – an over-abundance of information – on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of its external effects, social distancing behavior (SDB) shares fundamental properties with public goods, whose potential for undersupply has been examined e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1995958 |
| _version_ | 1818315515858255872 |
|---|---|
| author | Susumu Cato Takashi Iida Kenji Ishida Asei Ito Hiroto Katsumata Kenneth Mori McElwain Masahiro Shoji |
| author_facet | Susumu Cato Takashi Iida Kenji Ishida Asei Ito Hiroto Katsumata Kenneth Mori McElwain Masahiro Shoji |
| author_sort | Susumu Cato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This debate examines the impact of infodemics – an over-abundance of information – on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of its external effects, social distancing behavior (SDB) shares fundamental properties with public goods, whose potential for undersupply has been examined extensively in the social sciences. Although the negative effects of infodemics have been emphasized by governments and international organizations, theoretical models suggest that infodemics may work as a mitigation mechanism. That is, infodemics may enhance people’s SDBs. Based on original survey data, we show that media exposure can positively increase SDB. We conclude by discussing two public health implications. First, the media plays an important role in motivating SDB. Second, even if infodemics can increase SDB, we must be wary of their ability to pose other, non-negligible dangers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:06:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41564cc69ca249818c27acf349c0c322 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:06:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-41564cc69ca249818c27acf349c0c3222022-12-21T23:53:02ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802021-01-0114110.1080/16549716.2021.19959581995958Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertaintySusumu Cato0Takashi Iida1Kenji Ishida2Asei Ito3Hiroto Katsumata4Kenneth Mori McElwain5Masahiro Shoji6University of TokyoUniversity of TokyoUniversity of TokyoUniversity of TokyoUniversity of TokyoUniversity of TokyoUniversity of TokyoThis debate examines the impact of infodemics – an over-abundance of information – on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of its external effects, social distancing behavior (SDB) shares fundamental properties with public goods, whose potential for undersupply has been examined extensively in the social sciences. Although the negative effects of infodemics have been emphasized by governments and international organizations, theoretical models suggest that infodemics may work as a mitigation mechanism. That is, infodemics may enhance people’s SDBs. Based on original survey data, we show that media exposure can positively increase SDB. We conclude by discussing two public health implications. First, the media plays an important role in motivating SDB. Second, even if infodemics can increase SDB, we must be wary of their ability to pose other, non-negligible dangers.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1995958social distancinginfodemicsrisk aversionpublic goodsocial media |
| spellingShingle | Susumu Cato Takashi Iida Kenji Ishida Asei Ito Hiroto Katsumata Kenneth Mori McElwain Masahiro Shoji Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty Global Health Action social distancing infodemics risk aversion public good social media |
| title | Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty |
| title_full | Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty |
| title_fullStr | Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty |
| title_short | Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty |
| title_sort | social media infodemics and social distancing under the covid 19 pandemic public good provisions under uncertainty |
| topic | social distancing infodemics risk aversion public good social media |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1995958 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT susumucato socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT takashiiida socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT kenjiishida socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT aseiito socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT hirotokatsumata socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT kennethmorimcelwain socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty AT masahiroshoji socialmediainfodemicsandsocialdistancingunderthecovid19pandemicpublicgoodprovisionsunderuncertainty |