NULLIUS IN VERBA: SCIENCE VS PSEUDO-SCIENCE/FRINGE SCIENCE

Abstract

The explosion of disinformation about global warming and other ecological problems could be called an infodemic , which is the term used by WHO to describe today’s pandemic situation. An infodemic means too much information, however, its importance can also be passed on to environmental problems. It causes confusion and risk-taking behaviors that can harm the health of our planet. It also leads to mistrust in authorities and undermines the public response. An infodemic can intensify or lengthen outbreaks when people are unsure about what they need to do, for example, to protect our environment. With growing digitization – an expansion of social media and internet use – information can spread more rapidly. This can help to more quickly fill information voids but can also amplify harmful messages.