Misinformation bigger challenge in health crisis; reliable platform is key

From discrediting the threat of coronavirus disease to theories that vaccines could lead to infertility among women, misinformation and fake news had spread rapidly through social media and other outlets during the pandemic, creating confusion, anxiety, finger-pointing and dismissal of proven public health measures among the people.

At a webinar on ‘The Covid infodemic: The rise of fearmongering through fake news’, organized by The Times of India on Sunday, health and communication experts stressed the need to develop a cohesive system — a platform that could bring the media, social media and the government together — to help guide patients through the glut of Covid-19 information and misinformation, including providing tips on how to access credible sources.

Panelist Gagandeep Kang, a leading virologist from Vellore’s Christian Medical College, said the social media and news organisations should not only play a key role in disseminating correct information but also partner with fact-checkers to obtain authentic information.