Information and Disinformation: Social Media in the COVID-19 Crisis.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) is a global pandemic with over 4.7 million cases and 316,000 deaths worldwide.1 Social media, defined as “electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content,”2 has played an important role during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In fact, social media usage amongst the public has previously been demonstrated to significantly increase in cases of natural disasters and crises.3 However, it is important to consider the benefits and limitations of this medium.