Misinformation and vaccine acceptance

Misinformation and vaccine acceptance: In this report, the authors assess respondents’ acceptance of false claims circulated online since the beginning of the pandemic. Along with this, they also explored some of the factors associated with higher or lower likelihood of believing false claims. The authors then took this information and considered the association between believing false information about COVID-19 and vaccine acceptance.

Between 7 percent and 22 percent of respondents indicate that they believe each false claim that was asked about in the survey.

Coronavirus apps were supposed to be the answer to COVID-19. They are not

Coronavirus apps were supposed to be the answer to COVID-19. They are not: At the heart of the problem is trust.

What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 24 September

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 24 September: Top stories: Russia has highest daily increase since July, Finland warns pandemic expanding at 'alarming' rate, WHO urges more action to fight disinformation.

Here's what Google trends can tell us about the spread of coronavirus

Here's what Google trends can tell us about the spread of coronavirus: No one—not even Google—is suggesting that Google Trends is proven enough to replace existing epidemiological models. Instead, the fact that the data are now public means that researchers can continue to evaluate how it stacks up to the real world.

In terms of fighting Covid-19, Google Trends might be most useful to scientists figuring out the disease’s secondary health impacts.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: Real-time surveillance using Google Trends

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: Real-time surveillance using Google Trends.: In the wake of COVID-19, the capacity to track emerging trends in mental health symptoms and needs will guide public health responses at multiple ecological levels. Using Google Trends to track population-level mental health-related Google searches in the United States, this investigation identified pandemic-associated spikes in searches related to anxiety symptoms and remote treatments for anxiety, such as deep breathing and body scan meditation. As other discernable population-level changes in mental health have yet to emerge, continued surveillance is warranted.

Managing the COVID-19 infodemic

Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: Promoting healthy behaviours and mitigating the harm from misinformation and disinformation: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media are being used on a massive scale to keep people safe, informed, productive and connected. At the same time, the technology we rely on to keep connected and informed is enabling and amplifying an infodemic that continues to undermine the global response and jeopardizes measures to control the pandemic.  

An infodemic is an overabundance of information, both online and offline. It includes deliberate attempts to disseminate wrong information to undermine the public health response and advance alternative agendas of groups or individuals. Mis- and disinformation can be harmful to people’s physical and mental health; increase stigmatization; threaten precious health gains; and lead to poor observance of public health measures, thus reducing their effectiveness and endangering countries’ ability to stop the pandemic.

How disinformation could be clouding the true pandemic picture in Africa

Corona-free? How disinformation could be clouding the true pandemic picture in Africa: Of the roughly 28.6 million cases of COVID-19 logged by the World Health Organization, only 1.1 million are in Africa, 4 percent of the global total. The relatively low number of cases, along with a similarly low figure for coronavirus deaths, has researchers stumped. But despite the coronavirus’s relatively light touch so far, the continent faces a problem familiar throughout the world: pandemic misinformation.