As doctors fight COVID-19 misinformation, Facebook is letting it go viral

A report released this week by the nonprofit activist group Avaaz estimates that networks amplifying misleading health information generated an astonishing 3.8 billion Facebook views in the past year alone.

While facing unthinkable numbers of critically ill patients, a novel virus for which treatment protocols were changing by the hour and confounding information from all levels of leadership, these doctors committed precious time and energy to interviews and other outreach efforts.

Although Facebook claims to be committed to fact-checking its content, only 16 percent of all the material identified as health misinformation had warning labels, Avaaz found.

If 84 percent of health misinformation is going unchecked, and misinformation is being consumed at four times the rate of information based in science and evidence, Facebook is severely compromising our path to ending this pandemic.

This horrific misstep at the beginning of the pandemic undermined public trust and turned mask wearing, which should be basic hygiene during a pandemic, into a bizarrely polarizing issue.In July, Facebook removed one of dozens of anti-mask groups on its platform, citing the violation of spreading misinformation, but what of the damage already done, and the groups that remain?

Fighting against rampant misinformation and disinformation takes many forms. Educators are working tirelessly to develop and implement media literacy curricula.

As leaders in the medical field take on the frontlines of COVID-19, while attempting to offer clear and concise public health messaging, and as individuals painstakingly sift through information to make the best choices for themselves, their families and their community, Facebook and other social media giants must be accountable for the power of their platforms. Every day they aren't extends the staggering devastation of this pandemic.

Original article