The World Health Organization even talks about a “massive infodemic” to describe the spread of false information on a global scale.
The misinformation surrounding Covid-19 is no exception.
In general, there are more reasons to believe information if it is published by a well-known and recognized media outlet (an information site like franceinfo.fr, a newspaper like Le Monde, a television channel like France 2, or a radio station like France Inter, for example).
Here are some recommendations that will prevent you from being infected by these bogus news stories.
1- Beware of digital word-of-mouth
The way information is shared should raise a red flag. There are more reasons to doubt it if it arrives in your email inbox, via WhatsApp, or from a publication by a “friend” that appears in your Facebook feed.
2- Do not trust arguments from authority
Rumors are often accompanied by a little phrase claiming the information comes from a prominent specialist, sometimes anonymous, working preferably on the other side of the world, whom you’ve never heard of.
3- Control your emotions
False information plays on your emotions to spread. The authors want your emotions to push you to share their content in turn.
4- Read the comments
This may seem paradoxical, but while you should be wary of what is written and shared on social networks, we also recommend reading the comments written in response to a dubious post. It is very common for internet users to question the truthfulness of the content or alert others to its falsehood.
5- Do not share misinformation without verifying it
False information exists only because it is shared massively. Without this virality, misinformation has little effect. When presented with information, you should exercise critical thinking. Who is the author of the message? Are they anonymous or from a well-known organization? Do the sources they cite exist? Are other serious media outlets also reporting this information? Isn’t it simply too far-fetched to be true?
