How To Become Immune To COVID-19 Misinformation
Have you heard that masks don’t work to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Or that hydroxychloroquine can be an effective treatment for COVID-19? Or that it’s not possible to catch COVID-19 twice? Many of these COVID-19 myths spread rapidly on social media, and now with vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
Posted — UpdatedFor example, take a look at this TikTok video, which claims to show footage of a flight to Wuhan, China, carrying medical supplies to be donated to hospitals. Would you say this video contains valid evidence for the claims it makes?
Falsehoods Spread More Easily On Social Media
While urban legends and conspiracy theories have always been a part of pop culture, research shows that social media is making “fake news” even more rampant and insidious.
Unfortunately, the vast amount of misinformation being spread about COVID-19 is not just misleading, it can cost lives. A Canadian study found that people who get their news from social media are less likely to follow protocols like social distancing and wearing masks.
Young People Are Most Susceptible To COVID-19 Falsehoods
“One way to teach kids to be ‘news literate’ is to actually demonstrate the vetting process,” Halbreich wrote in an email to Simplemost. “For example, when you see an article or a post, do some digging. Ask yourself: who/where it is coming from? Is it an opinion or a fact? Why might this person be saying this?”
‘Sanitize Before You Share’
Peter Adams, senior vice president of education at NLP, agrees you can reduce the amount of potentially deceptive content you’re exposed to by being “discerning about your sources” on social media. He recommends following the verified accounts of major organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control as well as your local officials managing the pandemic. If you see a claim about COVID-19 from an unofficial source, take it with a grain of salt.
“Remember: Just because someone is a doctor, or says they are a doctor — or wears scrubs in a viral video — does not mean they are sharing accurate information about COVID,” Adams says. “If you encounter a specific claim you’re unsure about, do a quick search online for more information from a credible, standards-based source.”
Just like we wash our hands and wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19, NLP encourages people to “sanitize” information before sharing it online. Here’s a helpful infographic from the nonprofit, which recommends taking four quick steps before sharing something on social media:
Tell us: Are you in the practice of fact-checking what you see on social media?
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