When Mr Jeswant Singh, 68, wants the latest update on the Covid-19 pandemic, he scrolls through his mobile phone for WhatsApp messages from his friends.
He showed The Straits Times messages he had received with charts, videos and big words.
The information must be true because “all these messages and information are going viral already”, said the retired maintenance officer, who has received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and is waiting for his third.
Professor May O. Lwin from Nanyang Technological University’s WeeKim Wee School of Communication and Information noted: “The public, and even those studying the virus, have to navigate, decipher and respond to rapidly evolving sets of information – which may not always be consistent – on numerous platforms.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
UK expects 100,000 cases a day but no new measures for now
Britain’s government has rejected calls to trigger “Plan B” measures to limit spiralling Covid-19 infection rates, even as it warned that cases could reach as many 100,000 a day over the winter months.
Russia worried amid detection of Delta Plus
It is believed to be more contagious than Delta, may push rate of new cases up
Ronaldo a cautionary tale for Salah
United star’s recent club career suggests that Egyptian could be best served staying at Liverpool
Prive Group CEO punched teen, made lewd comments
He pleads guilty to assault, harassment in court for unprovoked attack in lift that left boy, 13, traumatised
Man's guilty plea for harassing bus driver set aside after charge disputed
A man who had earlier pleaded guilty in a district court to a harassment charge after he livestreamed a confrontation with an SBS bus driver has had his plea set aside.
Eateries frustrated by dining-in limit, seek more communication
Restaurateurs have greeted the extension of Covid-19 rules restricting dining-in to two people until Nov 21 with frustration and resignation.
Courier's error in delivering drug package lands volleyball coach in jail
A volleyball coach who used courier firm Lalamove to deliver a package containing methamphetamine to a drug abuser was caught after the deliveryman sent it to another flat by mistake.
Businesses in ‘deep despair and disrepair'
Latest extension of curbs could lead to more closures, job losses in retail sector
Biennial World Cup must be ‘beneficial to all'
Fifa chief Infantino aims to seek consensus over controversial plans
10 ART kits to be delivered to each household from today
From today, around 1,000 postmen will deliver 10 antigen rapid test (ART) kits to households islandwide.