Features
the theoretical solution is to consume information related to the pandemic. Whatever the information is. In that way, it is hoped that the mental balance will return.
In the view of communication science, information serves as a material used to provide certainty. Several situations put humans in a state of uncertainty, one of which is a new situation. The main feature of a new situation is that there is not enough information to understand it: is it a threat or an opportunity? This uncertainty creates an information imbalance. The symptoms include being mentally uncomfortable, worried, anxious, and threatened. In order to balance it, the consumption of truthful information must be taken, so that the mental returns to its balanced position.
22
Emerging
The Covid-19 pandemic, can be called a new situation. This is considering a similar pandemic that also spread globally and claimed millions of people, occurred 100 years earlier. The pandemic occurred when the Spanish Flu swept the world. Today, it is difficult to find any human who was alive when the Spanish Flu occurred, while still having intact memories when the Covid-19 Pandemic occurred. Today’s generation sees Covid-19 as something new. So it is conceivable to be in this situation: the uncertainty accompanied by the threat of rapid transmission and death that lasts a short time, of course, becomes a terrible mental disorder. So
But unfortunately, in the midst of the soaring need to eliminate the imbalance of information, not all information circulating is sourced from a valid authority—which are the sources that have adequate knowledge and are free from economic or political interests. In reality, the information circulating is often mixed up and experiences disinformation and misinformation. This is understood as an infodemic cycle: new situations - information imbalance - information needs - unauthoritative production and distribution of information. Thus, the variable that can be used to break the chain of the infodemic cycle is the presence of change agents who have the authority to disseminate information related to the pandemic. And of course the news that we want to see is free of disinformation and misinformation. These agents of change play a role in disseminating correct information, as well as counteracting misinformation related to the pandemic. One of those who can be relied upon to carry out this role are lecturers and students who have a background in health sciences and understand the pandemic phenomenon. The question is, are the agents of change—lecturers and students with health science backgrounds—able to deliver information (whose basic science is communication)?