WHO officials have asked the world’s largest social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, as well as social media influencers for help in stopping the spread of false information about coronavirus.
In the last two weeks, many tech companies have responded by posting links to WHO articles and resources on their platforms. They have also made it harder to find false or misleading information via searches.
They also have worked independently to curb misinformation.
Google launched an “SOS Alert,” which directs people searching for information about the coronavirus to WHO resources, including the organization’s Twitter account.
Andrew Pattison, who manages digital solutions for the WHO, said he plans to travel to Facebook’s California headquarters next week to ask 20 other big tech companies, including Uber and Airbnb, to spread credible advice on safe travel during the epidemic.
More articles on population health:
US has highest suicide rate, avoidable deaths of all high-income countries, report says
This Super Bowl Sunday, beware ‘avocado-hand’
Loneliness jumped 7 percentage points in 2019: 4 key findings