HKU Moodle

An infodemic — an overabundance of information, both accurate and inaccurate, during a health event — poses a significant challenge to effective public health communication. When combined with information voids (absence of credible and assessable facts), it complicates public understanding and response to health crises. Infodemics lead to unintentional risk-taking behaviours, erode trust in health authorities, and hinder mitigation efforts and strategies, ultimately harming individuals and society at large. 

This experimental course introduces you to the knowledge and skills needed to navigate today’s complex information ecosystem, with a particular focus on the nuanced dynamics of health misinformation. A central component of the course is the development of an Infodemic Insights Report, an evidence-based, analytical project that synthesises data from multiple sources, including a collection of narratives derived from social listening and monitoring methods.

The course also examines the impact of infodemics on trust in medical science and expertise, recognising the pivotal roles of different stakeholders such as media professionals, communication officers, and policy makers. The course emphasises the importance of cultural sensitivities, ethical considerations, and socio-political contexts that inform effective public health communication.