infodemic

American  

[in-foh-dem-ik] / ˌɪn foʊˈdɛm ɪk /

noun

1. a massive amount of widely and rapidly circulating information about a particular crisis or controversial issue, consisting of a confusing combination of fact, falsehood, rumor, and opinion.

   The swine flu infodemic has sparked a national drama that puts our fantasies and fears on public display.

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Etymology

Origin of infodemic

First recorded in 2000–05; info ( def. ) + (epi)demic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Since COVID-19 first emerged more than three years ago, the World Health Organization has complained of an "infodemic" of misinformation and disinformation around the pandemic.

From Reuters • Mar. 23, 2023

The spread of misinformation during the pandemic has been dubbed an infodemic by the World Health Organization.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2022

So I went to the major platforms to ask what they are doing to contain this high-stakes infodemic.

From The Verge • Jun. 5, 2021

Alongside the virus itself, we’ve been shadowed by what the World Health Organization has called an infodemic.

From Scientific American • Apr. 26, 2021

Just as there is no clear solution to COVID-19, there is no magic bullet for the infodemic surrounding it.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2020