Misinformation is everywhere, particularly when it comes to false health content. Here's a guide for how to spot it.
As Carl Bergstrom, a University of Washington researcher and the co-author of the misinformation guide "Calling Bulls---", the goal of the entities responsible for misinformation is to generate mass confusion. That leaves charlatans with the opportunity to sell phony cures, or to sow division among the public for political purposes.
Scientific breakthroughs are possible, but they do not happen often -- and when they do, it'll be a major news event. So for now, it's likely a charlatan trying to sell you something by tapping into your fears about the virus.Dr. Zubin Damania, a physician and science communicator known for his medical-themed rap videos, has kept a close eye on misinformation during the pandemic.
One useful exercise he recommends is to think through the so-called revelation and really question whether it makes sense. Often there are clear gaps in the logic. The organizations behind the servers are improving their screening practices to ensure that there are greater controls about the information that gets posted. In particular, they'vefor papers that could promote conspiracy theories, according to Nature News. But it's still worth having some degree of skepticism about research that has not yet been properly vetted.
But it's also a strategy to tap into people's emotions in order to generate publicity. Caulfield is particularly skeptical of reports that use divisive language that is clearly trying to leverage ideology, frustration or fear, versus simply presenting the facts.
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