The Spread of the Pandemic of Social Media Panic during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Eqbal Radwan,Afnan Radwan

doi:10.29333/ejeph/8277

Abstract

The outbreak of novel COVID-19 has opened up different issues for social media including the life-endangering consequences of supposed cures, misleading rumors, and conspiracy theories about the origin of coronavirus. These dangerous rumors circulated the world and thus paired with racism and mass fearmongering all closely linked to the new “Infomedia” systems of the present century characterized by the multiplicity of means of communication between people especially platforms of social media. The sharing of misinformation has an influence beyond the harm of the coronavirus itself. Many posts were seen related to treatments that are not proven, techniques to mitigate exposure, and infection that are either not proven and/or filled with a lot of misleading information, and instruction for individuals to stock up on supplies and food. Taking into account the present situation, there is an important need to consider and assess the awareness of the public towards the dangerous impact of the spread of misinformation in the time of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Highlights

The outbreak of novel COVID-19 has opened up different issues for social media including the life-endangering consequences of supposed cures, misleading rumors, and conspiracy theories about the origin of coronavirus
Almost 200 rumors and myths have debunked about the virus. These dangerous rumors circulated the world and paired with racism and mass fearmongering all closely linked to the new “Infomedia” systems of the present century characterized by the multiplicity of means of communication between people especially platforms of social media
A remarkable particularity of the present crisis is the coincidence of virality and virology: did the virus itself spread very rapidly but so did the information and misinformation related to the outbreak of pandemic in the globe

Summary

Introduction

The outbreak of novel COVID-19 has opened up different issues for social media including the life-endangering consequences of supposed cures, misleading rumors, and conspiracy theories about the origin of coronavirus. Dear Editor, During the current days, after the outbreak of a new coronavirus (COVID-19) among people around the world, an increasing amount of information and concerns are influencing global mental health.

Results

Conclusion