How to Avoid the Coronavirus Infodemic
We all know what the term “fake news” means, but do most of us go more in-depth and look up ways on how to avoid unreliable and dodgy sources? For the majority of online users, this term is closely tied with Donald Trump and his constant battle with opposing media that has been going on for over the past few years. But, in reality, this is a growing issue that can affect everyone, one that can be dangerous when it comes to things such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this week’s blog, we’ll talk about the rising trend of Coronavirus-related infodemics and how you can put a stop to it by using a VPN. Continue reading to find out more.
The Issue With COVID-19 Fake News
While the pandemic has been raging for a couple of months already, the Coronavirus infodemic is just now peaking. The withdrawal from public life in most places around the world has brought the COVID-19 conversation to the Internet. And, with poorly-controlled online sites, as well as text-focused platforms like Facebook and Twitter, misinformation spreads quickly.
Big companies like Google and Amazon have started to apply a hands-on approach in dealing with the rising issue of the Coronavirus infodemic. The former has committed to cracking down any potentially harmful or misleading content focused on the pandemic, while the latter company has mainly been active in dealing with fake adverts and products that falsely claim to protect or help cure the virus.
But, with this said, we have to keep in mind that such measures only work reactively, meaning the damage could already be done until it can be removed. That’s why the best way to deal with fake news and purposely-placed misleading information is to avoid them entirely. This leads us to the main point of this post.
How to Stay Clear of the Coronavirus Infodemic
Disinformation spreads exceptionally quickly, especially on big social media platforms where it can be hard to put a stop. So much so, that even the WHO had reported that fake news related to the virus outbreak is contributing to the overall Coronavirus infodemic. Dedicated bogus news sites are popping up by the dozen, making it hard to tell the difference between real and fake news sources. Of course, the only way to entirely avoid stumbling upon fake news is not to use online sources of information or access any social media platforms. But since this seems almost impossible nowadays, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chance of getting exposed to false information related to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The first thing you should check is the source of the publication. Sticking with mainstream media outlets and a couple of smaller sites is enough to keep you updated on everything. In the same line, you should also look at who’s the author. More precisely, if a news article is unsigned, it can be a sign that the story is fabricated. Sure, each company and author has his own bias, but sticking to proven choices will help you avoid the bulk of the fabricated stories.
When it comes to social media platforms, it’s a bit harder to stay away from fake news, as these sites allow anyone to upload almost anything. Telltale signs you should watch for on such sites are small details in the article, as well as photos and images that may be photoshopped.
A Key Takeaway
With all of this being said, it’s crucial to remember that you can never be sure which news are real and which are false until they unravel. While it can be hard to do so, there are specific tools you can use to limit contact with such sources, such as VPN services. With a VPN, you can steer yourself from the worst of the Internet and have much more control over the information you wish to access. Above all, by using a VPN, you’ll also be keeping all of your information safe and far away from any malicious online users trying to exploit the current situation. Get a VPN today and enjoy the unrestricted and uncensored Internet, while avoiding untrustworthy sources.
Yaroslav S.CEO at ZoogVPN. Yaroslav is a versatile manager with extensive customer support experience. His historical background and a deep passion for philosophy perfectly complete a real desire to create meaningful content and tech products.
