Infodemic
An excessive, fast-spreading flow of information, including misinformation and rumors, that makes a crisis harder to manage.
Explanation
Infodemic blends information and epidemic and was coined by international relations professor David Rothkopf in a May 2003 Washington Post article about the SARS outbreak, arguing that a flood of exaggerated and false reports was making the crisis harder to contain. The term resurfaced and was popularized globally by the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020, describing how misinformation on social media and other channels spread alongside the virus itself and undermined public health responses. The concept is a reminder for marketers and communicators of the reputational and safety risk in adding to information overload or unverified claims during a crisis, and of the value of being a clear, credible source when audiences are overwhelmed.
Usage context / examples
During a product recall, a company's communications team monitors social media closely because rumors can spread into an infodemic that outpaces the brand's official statements.
Related terms
Misinformation, crisis communication, media literacy
Turkish equivalent
İnfodemi
Turkish definition
Infodemic, bir kriz sırasında yanlış bilgi ve söylentilerin hızla yayılarak durumu daha da yönetilemez hale getirmesini ifade eder.