A Comprehensive Infodemiology Analysis on Google Users' Health Interests in Information Disorders

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the health interests of Google users regarding information disorders. Using Google Trends, relative search volumes (RSVs) that disclosed topics such as 'disinformation,' 'fake news,' 'misinformation,' and 'conspiracy theory' were collected in all and health categories, from January 2004 to March 2023. The data were analyzed using 12-month ARIMA forecasting models, qualitative analysis of health-related queries, and comparisons of terminologies' frequencies to dichotomized categories of mean years of schooling, internet penetration, health relationship, and mean RSV. The information-seeking behavior regarding the terminologies of information disorders remained low over time, indicating an association with the education levels and internet penetration of countries. This was particularly evident for terms such as 'disinformation' and 'misinformation,' which are more commonly used in academic environments. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in Google users' interest in these phenomena, driven by concerns about the coronavirus and vaccines. These findings underscore the importance of implementing media education, particularly in schools as a long-term measure, to promote a better understanding of correct concepts among the population and encourage seeking knowledge from different sources. Additionally, international entities should monitor and regulate the emergence and spread of new popular terminologies related to information disorders.