Facebook has been under fire lately due to the spread of misinformation regarding COVID-19. The social networking site is scrambling to control the issue, but could this "fake news" be part of a bigger problem? The overall picture points to the fact that Americans do not accurately and effectively research the information they consume.
Although this information may not come as a surprise to many of you, the ramifications of the issue are no less. The research group, Avaaz,discovered that over 40 percent of the coronavirus-related misinformation they found was on Facebook. Numerous articles are boasting claims such as, "Hairdryers could be used for coronavirus prevention" and "Good News: Coronavirus is destroyed by Chlorine Dioxide.” Now, the first claim may seem bogus to many, but it does not negate the fact that some people could still be misled by the information. The second title, however, is a little more believable but still false.
Hundreds of thousands of Facebook users are being exposed to misinformation regarding Covid-19. The main concern is that this “fake news” could lead to a compromising situation. The best thing we can do for ourselves and our loved ones during this time is to go the extra mile and cross-check any information we receive with a credible source. Websites hosted by the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) are great resources to find clarity amidst this epidemic of deception.
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