The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University launched the Infodemic Reporting Project last year to investigate how scams and disinformation impact today’s society. The project’s goal is to address the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation in the age of social media and the internet. By researching the historical origins of scams and disinformation, identifying those most affected by them, and exploring strategies to counteract them, the Infodemic Reporting Project assesses the impact of these issues.

In a recent article titled Combating the Infodemic, the S.I. Newhouse School highlights four primary focus areas of the project: Scams, Spin, Distrust, and Disinformation. Each focus area includes multiple stories authored by student reporters of the S.I. Newhouse School. Included are tips and advice on how to identify these fraudulent activities.

The S.I. Newhouse School explains, “The information age has quickly devolved into the disinformation age. The effects aren’t pretty, altering our sense of whom to trust and pushing our faith in each other, and the government, to new lows.”

The Infodemic Reporting Project will continue to be updated as research continues. The project aims to empower people with the tools needed to identify and fight back against scams and disinformation. Through their efforts, individuals can develop greater ability to defend against these threats.

For more information, check out HSDL’s In Focus topic on Disinformation and other documents related to scams and disinformation.