Fighting Infodemics: Labels as Antidotes to Mis- and Disinformation?!

Abstract

Infodemics—particularly the spread of misinformation and disinformation—are recognized as global threats to democracy, public health, and social cohesion. In this inquiry, we explore the marketing origins of infodemics to consider their content, genesis, and evolution. We conduct a systematic literature review to (i) synthesize the multi-disciplinary research on mis-/disinformation (including marketing, public policy, psychology, information systems, computer science, and political science) and (ii) develop a prescriptive and generative framework to stimulate research that helps counteract infodemics via disclosures and warning labels. Our model considers the ways that label characteristics impact consumer response to mis-/disinformation, as well as how contextual and consumer factors may interact with aspects of labels to drive affective and cognitive responses, subsequently influencing attitudes, intentions, and behaviors related to labels, media content, and others. The influence of other consumers, as well as firm and policy interventions, on these outcomes is also considered. Thus, this inquiry presents a comprehensive model that bridges emerging literature across disciplines to present a holistic view of both infodemics and infodemic-related warning labels and proposes directions for future research and practical solutions related to the use of warning labels to counteract infodemics.

AI Through a CSR Lens: Consumer Issues and Public Policy

“…Maximizing consumer welfare through AI comes from not just minimizing the potential harms of AI but also enabling sustainable consumption behavior that enhances consumer, societal, and environmental welfare. Turning to the harms first, AI is increasingly implicated in the spread of misinformation due to factors such as large language models that could generate humanlike, persuasive misinformation on an unprecedented scale (Zhou et al 2023), and AI-powered bots and social media algorithms that could amplify the reach of and engagement with misinformation, thus contributing to infodemics (Mende et al 2023). Research is needed to not only deepen our understanding of the negative effects of misinformation on consumer well-being but also help devise countermeasures that consumers can use to detect and stop the spread of misinformation.…”

“…Research is needed to not only deepen our understanding of the negative effects of misinformation on consumer well-being but also help devise countermeasures that consumers can use to detect and stop the spread of misinformation. More generally, research is necessary on how companies and policy makers can develop effective interventions, including AI-powered tools, to combat infodemics (Mende et al 2023).…”