Both Coronavirus and fake news can be deadly
Not only do you have to protect yourself from coronavirus but you also have to protect yourself from the fake news. As we all know that fake news about the coronavirus caused tremendous fear among people.
Through its vast social media networks, a wave of inaccuracy is spreading on the coronavirus. The coronavirus pandemic brought out even more people spreading fake news than usual so it is a lot more evident to more people.
The best thing we can all do is to be discerning, educated, objective, and practice our critical thinking skills so that we do not fall for fake news about the coronavirus or anything else.
Covid -19 pandemic conflicts, manipulation, and misinformation of news spread across the social media and other digital platforms which attend public threatening. More than millions of people have been affected.
In India, Corona Virus recorded the most prominent peak in September and then the daily death falls and decline. Nowadays misinformation about Covid-19 is also increasing day by day.
India recorded more than 10 million cases and 153751 deaths till now.
The scientist has also agreed that if the lockdown didn’t start earlier in India a lot of people will get affected by Corona Virus.
The established was that without the lockdown more than 14 million people will get affected 2.6 million dead. Coronavirus belongs to the family of viruses. According to the sources, the virus comes in December 2019, in Wuhan, China.
According to World Health Organisation, the symptoms of the Corona Virus is fever, cough, shortness of breath.
On further investigation, it has been found that a similar threat was posed by the SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus about 18 years ago.
In 2002-2003, 700 died in SARS, and thousands of people were infected. It also impacts the economic activities at that time.
A few days ago, the fake news about Zee news reporter Pooja Makkar has spread widely on Twitter. She is the first Indian woman journalist to take the Covaxin Coronavirus vaccine.
Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech. After 24 hours of taking the vaccine, she developed a mild fever which is considered to be good news. On the other hand, the Shudra tweeted that “Zee News reporter Pooja Makkar feels pain, stiffness in her hand after 24 hours of taking Covid-19 vaccine”.
Up until senior Indian National Congress spokesperson, Surendra Rajput tweeted “now what news will they run #bajpasamarthak #zeewale Zee news reporter Pooja Makkar feels pain, stiffness in her hands after taking the vaccine Covaxin”. Later, it has been found that she has developed a mild fever and this is considered to be good news as the vaccine seems to have started showing its result.
When she contacted doctors to know the reason behind fever, she was told that this is a “good sign” because the vaccine has started showing it’s normal.
The fake news speed on Twitter is 6 times true than any other news. Fake news is not a new phenomenon. Earlier also in 1979 fake news of Jayprakash Narayan’s death was circulated in India. In 2019 Oxford Dictionary added a new word called “Fake News” which is defined as ‘fake news, exploding on social media, is seeping into the mainstream.’
Dr. Debilal Mishra Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication department at Ravenshaw University quoted on the topic of misinformation “Yes I received fake news on social media and according to me rise in media literacy can help to check the spread of misinformation with that source verification is needed to spot a fake news”
Gauri Joshi a student of IIMC Delhi second year who is pursuing English journalism claimed that “It’s an information pandemic, and with a lockdown, there’s an addiction for more information which is why rumors become as important as facts.
There are various platforms like Google News and PIB fact-checking handles which help verify the news. Following more than one portal or switching channels also helps.
Arpan Mohanty a 2ND-year student of the BBA department at Ravenshaw University said “It is one of the dangerous things in this present world. Fake news is mostly spread by people who don’t have work, sitting on their sofas and spreading their stories for enjoyment.
Politicians for fake propaganda scammers for taking advantage of earning money. Conspiracy Terrorists for creating confusion among locals and they can start a civil violence war against govt. Covid misinformation is also spreading because of the above reasons as per my point of view.
Some misinformation is like on govt doesn’t do anything thing for covid. Other misinformation is like lockdown rules or on covid vaccination process. The side effects of vaccinations. And many more. It’s simple to spot. Don’t believe in any story on social media. Check with leading newspapers or even on their website on Google.
One can also check on with WHO website or state and central govt or MHA website. There is a toll-free no. By central and state government ministry to check on anything about covid. Or even one can with Local Government Hospital. It is simple and easy as that, don’t believe check with the following authority always.”
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Update by Namrata Ghosal