Written by Tavie Johnson
Parallel to the raging COVID-19 pandemic is a dangerous and deadly infodemic. The spread of misinformation online may seem like harmless fear-mongering, but unfortunately, misinformation costs lives and livelihoods. Here are some ways you can be a conscious consumer and responsible deliverer of information whilst fighting misinformation.
First, we must establish the distinction between misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation comes from individuals unknowingly spreading false information without malice, whereas disinformation is the purposeful act of spreading conspiracy theories and blatant lies.
Regarding information about the COVID-19 virus, vaccines, mask mandates, or anything else pertaining to the coronavirus, it is essential to think critically about what you’re seeing. Fortunately, social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter now flag posts featuring these topics and link further information for viewers to explore, which is always an excellent option. Still, you should always go beyond the surface when looking into coronavirus. Here are some questions to think about: Who is the person posting this?; What is the reaction from viewers and commenters? Where are they finding their sources, if there are any at all? When did this information surface? Why did they post it? How can I analyze and verify this information?
When fact-checking information, make sure to reference multiple unbiased sources. When in doubt, government websites, pages from non-governmental organizations and health entities, and news articles are better than commercial websites and blogs. To dive even deeper, check out the research papers and scientific data these sources refer to for yourself, to make sure that nothing was taken out of context. Once you are certain that your sources are reputable and the information is legitimate, you can share the information online and in your social circles.
Misinformation arises from gaps in knowledge, as humans won’t fill in the missing pieces using their own logic and reasoning. Oftentimes, the COVID-19 infodemic is motivated by fear, as people are naturally afraid of the novel situation, desperate to keep them and their loved ones safe. For instance, this may manifest as mass vaccine hesitancy if a person saw a social media post about vaccines containing microchips (an egregious falsehood) and then chose to share that with their community. It is therefore paramount to acknowledge the concerns of those spreading misinformation and inform them of the truth from a non-judgemental standpoint. Though it may be hard, keeping your emotions in check is a far better strategy than becoming angry at those people who spread misinformation. Anger results in the misinformed becoming more hostile and defensive, doubling down on their misinformed reasoning.
As always, engaging with your community is the best way to fill your role as an informed citizen. Not everyone has the same level of knowledge and privilege as you do. Low-income and rural communities are particularly vulnerable to the infodemic, as people in these categories often aren’t native English speakers, don’t have access to high-speed internet, or aren’t well educated. You have the potential to influence these communities by spreading reliable and clear information about the efficacy of social distancing, masking, vaccination, and more. And at the end of the day, as unfortunate as it may be, you must remember that not everyone will agree with you. However, the more people we convince to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and infodemic, and the more misinformation we vanquish, the sooner we’ll achieve a COVID-19 free world.
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