Coupled information-epidemic spreading with consideration of self-isolation in the context of mass media

Abstract

Modern social media can facilitate the diffusion of epidemic-related information during pandemics, thereby enhancing individual epidemic awareness. However, current research places less emphasis on self-isolation behaviors stimulated by such awareness, which are crucial for long-term epidemic response. Thus, we propose a coupled information-epidemic spreading model that incorporates the impact of mass media and self-isolation behaviors. Using the Microscopic Markov Chain Approach, we analyze the model, determine the epidemic threshold, and investigate parameters contributing to intertwined dynamics. Experiments show that self-isolation effectively raises the epidemic threshold and reduces outbreak scope. Besides, stronger mass media diffusion enhances self-isolation's inhibitory effect on epidemic spread. There exists a meta-critical point in information diffusion impact; only when exceeding it does information diffusion increase the epidemic threshold, but mass media presence can eliminate this point. This research underscores the critical role of mass media and self-isolation in controlling epidemics, offering valuable insights for prevention strategies.