Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations
Infodemic: the new challenge of COVID-19 pandemic
Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, has spread to every continent except Antarctica. The crisis has also created the menace of infodemic.
Infodemic is a situation where there is an “overabundance” of information that makes it difficult for people to identify truthful and trustworthy sources from false or misleading one
How has COVID-19 impacted the use of Social Media?
Enhanced Usage: Suspension of work during quarantine has left people to increasingly use Social media platforms both for entertainment and information.
Nearly 400 million turn to a single messaging app- WhatsApp- for sharing news and stories
More than 240 million are on Facebook and, often, using it as the predominant source of news,
Lack of gate-kepers in Social Media: Traditional news had quality assurance, and editorial controls before publication and most of the content was created by professionals – which is lacking in social media
Breeding ground for rumours: The above factors have become the perfecting setting for spread of misinformation some of which are- Bioweapons origins of the coronavirus (false); Bill Gates was behind it (false); UNICEF’s recommendations for warding off infection (unauthorised)
What are the consequences of spread of misinformation?
Communalisation of Pandemics: The Tablighi-Jamaat in New Delhi which has emerged as hot spot for the pandemic has made anti-social elements to give the disease communal colour (Corona Jihad)
Polarised public sphere: Increasing distrust among the communities
Privileging of faith over science: Any news which speaks about a cure is believed.
Nativist concerns are prioritised over global anxiety- which has strengthened conservative tendencies
Contempt for scientific temper – where wrong behaviours can further propel the pandemic
Spurs Panic behaviour in people – causing people to rush to markets for stockpiling their essential supplies
Enhances anxiety among public: For instance, a 23-year-old man, suspected to be a patient of novel coronavirus infection, committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi
Law and order issues: People have attacked the health inspectors in certain places due to misplaced fears spread through social media
Actions taken by various agencies to fight infodemic
Fact checking websites like Boom Live and Alt News, are continuously checking stories and verifying its truth.
WHO has started their own myth busting page – “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters”, debunking the myths doing rounds in social media and educating the public with authentic and verified information.
Proactive role by Social Media Platforms
Google has created an SOS Alert on COVID-19 for the six official UN languages to make sure the first information the public receives is from the WHO website
Facebook has promised to ban ads that promise “cures” for the Covid-19 virus.
The Press Information Bureau has set up a portal for fact-checking issues related with the pandemic. It will also receive messages by email and send its response.
Way Forward
Information Hygiene: Where people need to verify the information before sharing it to others.
Information hygiene can be done by verifying it is from an authentic source, double checking with fact checking website, asking a doctor or an expert etc.
Inform relevant authorities of the rumours being spread on social media platforms
Investing in training people to understand the concept of information hygiene.
Connecting the dots:
Do governments need to regulate the Social Media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation?
Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee recommendation on data protection framework in India
