Concerns are growing that fake news and misinformation surrounding the current global crisis are negatively affecting people's mental health.
Health experts and government authorities are concerned about the increasing amount of misinformation online regarding COVID-19 and the effect this is having on the mental wellbeing of internet users.
As the global coronavirus pandemic continues to affect everybody's lives, people are trying to learn more about the virus and how to stay safe through the internet and social media. Unfortunately, when searching for accurate and reliable information, internet users are complaining of being served a tide of coronavirus-related content that is either inaccurate or completely untrue.
We're going to see all kinds of different theories and ideas about what the impact of this virus is, shrouded in circumstantial evidence, and because we can't source many of these materials, especially on social media, it's going to become a serious problem in the long run.
Joan Donovan, Director, The Technology and Social Change Research Project, Harvard University
There are a number of concerns regarding what is being described as an 'infodemic' of false information being shared online that includes potentially harmful advice on 'cures' for COVID-19, alarmist reports of government conspiracies, and anti-Asian propaganda, which is all contributing to anxiety and stress for those already affected by the global lockdown.
Governments are now working with social media companies to identify and remove content flagged by global health organizations and health authorities for containing false claims or conspiracy theories that could cause harm to people who believe them.
We have seen an increase in anxiety and depression-related inquiries to Cybersmile Assistant, our AI support assistant, since the beginning of this crisis. It is crucial that people who are looking for reliable information regarding COVID-19 understand that some online content on the subject is not reliable or evidenced. News that is not factually true is not only unhelpful and dangerous but can also cause unnecessary emotional trauma. We recommend internet users try to fact-check information across a number of reliable sources.
Dan Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation
Our new interactive learning module focusing on dealing with misinformation and fake news online is now accessible through our educational platform. The program is suitable for all ages, free-to-use for everybody, and covers a wide variety of topics, including Gender Awareness, Online Safety, Digital Wellbeing, Positive Gaming and many more.
In the UK, the government is working with social media companies and disinformation specialists from civil society and academia to establish a comprehensive overview of the extent, scope, and impact of disinformation related to coronavirus. They have relaunched the 'Don't Feed the Beast' public information campaign, urging people to question and fact-check what they read online.