Get Wise to Covid Rumors

Sources that make confusing, scary, hard-to-track claims that change quickly are probably not reliable. If you see a claim that confuses you, Ms. Muldoon suggests checking other trusted sources to see if they echo the information.

Even if you’re reading a trusted source, Ms. Muldoon emphasizes it’s important to make sure the information is current. We’ve been able to learn a lot more about Covid-19 in the past year, and that knowledge is still adjusting.

Don’t treat your Facebook friends like a trusted source.

During this pandemic, spreaders of misinformation have targeted people by using everything from printed newsletters to viral videos. But you’re most likely, said Mr. Adams, to encounter false information when it’s shared by people you know and care about — even if they’re doing it accidentally. Spreaders of false information are relying on that fact.

It might be tempting to argue with the people you care about who believe this false information and help them see reason. But trying to rebut each point isn’t a useful approach, said Sandra Crouse Quinn, a University of Maryland professor of public health who studies false information about vaccines.

Instead, Dr. Quinn suggested being a good digital citizen and trying to proactively share factual information from your own feed. If you choose to engage with other people who might be falling prey to false information, listen to their concerns, she said. Ask people what they think they’ve learned and ask them what they’re worried about. People who feel heard are more likely to be open to having a conversation about an issue they care about.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

“We all fall for bad information sometimes,” Ms. Muldoon said. Maybe you once believed wearing a mask to the grocery store would cause your oxygen levels to drop, but research has changed your mind. It’s important to be able to acknowledge when that happens, instead of doubling down on the bad information because of a need to be right.

When you encounter misinformation remember that it exists for the benefit of the misinformer, not to help you — no matter how it’s framed. Some individuals who share or create false information “are just looking for prominence online,” said Mr. Adams. “They’re looking for attention, likes and shares.” Others have been seduced by larger conspiracy theories with long histories, like the anti-vaccine movement, and may genuinely believe they are trying to help.

*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from The New York Times can be found here ***