Santi Indra Astuti and colleagues argue that whole-of-society efforts are needed to build an internet ecosystem that helps communities be resilient to future health misinformation challenges
A local saying in Indonesia is that it is the most hoax filled country on Earth. As one of the world’s most diverse countries, with over 700 languages and people spread across 16 000 islands, it is challenging to reach its population with information that is credible and accurate. Misinformation has circulated in the country’s national media and affected discourse on everything from politics to natural disasters to immunisation for over a decade.12 Drawing from our experience with MAFINDO, a local civil society organisation dedicated to tackling misinformation and building health literacy within the community, we have learnt that promoting credible and compelling sources of health information benefits from taking a whole-of-society approach that helps to translate science for a general audience and promote digital literacy.
In February 2020, the national government asked MAFINDO to help dispel covid-19 misinformation and, later, promote covid-19 vaccine confidence. MAFINDO’s and Indonesia’s experience in promoting covid-19 vaccination is a microcosm of the challenges experienced globally. Narratives that include people’s direct experiences with covid-19 vaccines started as word-of-mouth questions and concerns, developing into more widespread misinformation when amplified online. For example, claims that vaccines were part of a depopulation agenda began on social media in Indonesia and became more widespread once covid-19 vaccines were available.345 When …