Main content

How to Cure Viral Misinformation

There鈥檚 a huge amount of coronavirus misinformation spreading online. This is the story of one misleading post - including some tips on how we can all stop it spreading.

The World Health Organisation calls it an 鈥渋nfodemic鈥 鈥 a flood of information about the coronavirus pandemic. Amid the good advice and the measured uncertainty, there鈥檚 a ton of false claims, conspiracy theories and health tips which are just plain wrong.
We鈥檝e been working to fight the tide of bad info, and in this programme 91热爆 Trending reporters Marianna Spring and Mike Wendling trace the story of one specific viral post.
It's a list of supposed facts about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself. Some of the tips are true, some are false but relatively harmless, and some are potentially dangerous. Who鈥檚 behind the post 鈥 and how did it spread?
Here鈥檚 our list of seven key tips on how to stop viral misinformation:
1. Stop and think
2. Check your source
3. Ask yourself, could it be a fake?
4. If you鈥檙e unsure whether it鈥檚 true 鈥 don鈥檛 share.
5. Check each fact, individually.
6. Beware emotional posts.
7. Think about biases

Presenters: Marianna Spring and Mike Wendling

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 29 Jul 2020 11:00

Broadcasts

  • Mon 20 Apr 2020 20:00
  • Wed 29 Jul 2020 11:00