Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2020
Keywords
misinformation, coronavirus, pandemic, COVID-19, social media, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, Tik Tok, conspiracy theories, vaccines, patents, Bill Gates
Abstract
The coronavirus outbreak has sent ripples of fear and confusion across the world. These sentiments—and our collective responses to the outbreak—are made worse by rampant misinformation surrounding the new strain of the virus, COVID-2019. In this post, I survey some of the most pervasive areas of tentacular coronavirus-related misinformation that has proliferated online -- as well as the responses of social media companies like YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok that may ultimately prove inadequate given the magnitude of the problem.
Recommended Citation
Santos Rutschman, Ana, Mapping Misinformation in the Coronavirus Outbreak (March 10, 2020). Health Affairs Blog, 2020, Saint Louis U. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2020-14, Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3631555.
Included in
Clinical Epidemiology Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, International Public Health Commons, Social Media Commons, Virus Diseases Commons, Viruses Commons