Michelle RIEDLINGER, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Researchers in many disciplinary areas refer to the pandemic as a “misinfodemic”, considering COVID-19 to be a major online vector for sharing content with low scientific credibility. This content takes various forms including disinformation, pseudoscience, scams, conspiracy theories and political or national manipulation. The COVID-19 pandemic became a reality for Australians shortly after devastating summer bushfires impacted many parts of the country in early 2020. There was little early public questioning of scientific advice regarding social distancing measures. However, conspiracy theories and contested scientific findings attempting to identify tangible causes for the pandemic and “quick-fix” solutions gained traction as the pandemic continued. In Australia, the amplification of COVID-19 and 5G conspiracy theories from international sources led to anti-5G marches and attempts to damage telecommunications infrastructure. Claims that a particular Chinese laboratory caused the pandemic also led to demands by Australian politicians for an independent international inquiry. In response, China’s state media editor referred to Australia as “the gum stuck to China’s shoe”, damaging Australia’s important trade relationships with China. Preprint research highlighting the biological role of anti-inflammatory drugs and hydroxychloroquine were two examples of conditional scientific claims later refuted by the wider scientific community. Many researchers and media commentators point to the role that mainstream media play in amplifying sources of content with low scientific credibility. Australian politicians, media personalities, and health and wellness influencers have also played roles in amplifying conspiracy theories and refuted scientific claims. The COVID-19 health information produced by WHO and governments in Australia, the US and the UK is largely written at a level that is inaccessible to large proportions of the respective publics. Yet, providing better quality and accessible information to Australians is unlikely to counter the COVID-19 misinfodemic alone because those with strong beliefs in COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation generally have low trust in institutions, low health literacy and reject official accounts Digital health literacy is a key indicator for assessing the effectiveness of misinformation interventions and general psychological well-being. However, efforts to increase national digital health literacy are long term and require strategic planning and resources to overcome entrenched social and cultural inequities that unequally affect vulnerable segments of the nation. Several Australian organisations are tackling these issues with digital inclusion and literacy efforts, social media monitoring of viral links and lobbying of the Australia government for greater online platform regulation. These organisational efforts will be discussed