An exploration of how fake news is taking over social media and putting public health at risk

This article reports on a small study which attempted to identify the types and sources of COVID‐19 misinform ation. The authors identified and analysed 1225 pieces of COVID‐19 fake news stories taken from fact‐checkers, myth‐busters and COVID‐19 dashboards. The study is significant given the concern raised by the WHO Director‐General that ‘we are not just fighting the pandemic, we are also figh ting infodemic’. The study concludes that the COVID‐19 infodemic is full of false claims, half backed conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific therapies, regarding the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, origin and spread of the virus. Fake news is pervasive in social media, putting public health at risk. The scale of the crisis and ubiquity of the misleading information require that scientists, health information professionals and journalists exercise their professional responsibility to help the general public identify fake news stories. They should ensure that accurate information is publ ished and disseminated.J.M.
Source: Health Information and Libraries Journal - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: International Perspectives And Initiatives Source Type: research