Rumors and Misinformation
This is a curated collection of tools and materials that can guide and provide examples on how to understand, track, address rumors and misinformation around COVID-19.
July 29, 2020
COVID-19 PSAs Zambia: Correct Information
This is a COVID-19 mini-series aimed at informing and engaging Zambian audiences about symptoms, preventive actions and the importance of verified information during the pandemic. As four strangers wait to board a bus, they discuss COVID-19 facts and fiction, and what role religion, social media and correct information has to play.
July 21, 2020
An Exploration of How Fake News is Taking over Social Media and Putting Public Health at Risk
This article reports on a small study which concludes that the COVID‐19 infodemic is full of false claims, misinformation, half backed conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific therapies, regarding the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, origin and spread of the virus. Fake news is pervasive in social media, putting public health at risk.
July 15, 2020
How to Protect Yourself in the Infodemic?
UNESCO and the World Health Organization are calling out this Infodemic and calling on you to be on the frontline for truth. It’s easy. Watch the video for the simple actions we can all take on how to identify false information, verify trusted sources, and help ourselves and loved ones to stay safe.
Fighting an Epidemic of Misinformation: The Importance of Science and Learning in Dealing with Coronavirus
This article states that a key part of the problem of coronavirus misinformation is that the public is effectively presented with various sources of information, through different digital media platforms, sometimes from anonymous sources and other times from figures claiming to have some degree of authority or credibility.
July 1, 2020
Fake News Can Be Deadly. Here’s How To Spot It
This blog was designed as a comic strip, and explains how to detect misinformation about COVID-19.
Coronavirus: The Human Cost of Virus Misinformation
A BBC team tracking coronavirus misinformation has found links to assaults, arsons and deaths. And experts say the potential for indirect harm caused by rumours, conspiracy theories and bad health information could be much bigger.
How to Fight an Infodemic: The Four Pillars of Infodemic Management
The World Health Organization (WHO) is presenting a framework for managing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infodemic. Infodemiology is now acknowledged by public health organizations and the WHO as an important emerging scientific field and critical area of practice during a pandemic.
Framework for Managing the COVID-19 Infodemic: Methods and Results of an Online, Crowdsourced WHO Technical Consultation
A World Health Organization (WHO) technical consultation on responding to the infodemic related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was held, entirely online, to crowdsource suggested actions for a framework for infodemic management.
The first version of this framework proposes five action areas in which WHO Member States and actors within society can apply, according to their mandate, an infodemic management approach adapted to national contexts and practices.
June 29, 2020
Nine Tips for Spotting Misinformation about the Coronavirus
This article lists nine tips for staying calm and informed when hearing information about coronavirus.
June 26, 2020
Health-protective Behaviour, Social Media Usage and Conspiracy Belief during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Social media platforms have long been recognised as major disseminators of health misinformation. Many previous studies have found a negative association between health-protective behaviours and belief in the specific form […]
June 24, 2020
#infohygiene in Times of Pandemics
Internews has been working on rumours, misinformation and disinformation for many years, including in the Ebola-response in 2014 where we launched our first rumour-tracking project, a methodology we continue to use, adapt and improve in humanitarian responses around the world. It also helps us grapple with fake news and disinformation when it infiltrates the mainstream media.
June 15, 2020
COVID-19 in Africa: Fighting Fake News about Coronavirus
To combat what the World Health Organization has called an “infodemic” around COVID-19, BBC News Africa has launched a searchable library of fact-checks debunking popular myths and misinformation about coronavirus in Africa.
June 8, 2020
Using Social Media to Disseminate COVID-19 Information: Technical Brief
This technical brief details the steps and considerations programs can take to develop an overarching social media strategy to disseminate COVID-19 messages and combat misinformation. This document also provides a list of relevant tools and resources for implementation.
Religious Leaders Play Key Role in Battle against COVID-19
Religious leaders throughout Bangladesh – including in the Rohingya refugee camps – have agreed to play a key role in the battle against the COVID-19 virus.
Mosque megaphones are traditionally used by imams to call the faithful to prayer. But they now serve an extra purpose: to disseminate key public health messages.
June 1, 2020
CoronaCombat: Leveraging Games for COVID-19 Awareness
CoronaCombat is a free video game that raises awareness and provides accurate information on the new coronavirus and related COVID-19 disease.
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