How Twitter Can Be Used To Battle the Coronavirus Fake News Menace

Twitter has as of now become an indispensable tool for the Government and citizens to give out and gather news on the Coronavirus. Not only are people turning to Twitter for the latest information credible information on the situation, but are also using the platform to curb the Coronavirus fake news menace.

Since the emergence and subsequent outbreak of Coronavirus, there have been millions of Tweets and Retweets about the virus around the globe. People are also taking to the platform to see how they can protect themselves and their families from the pandemic.

However, while there are a lot of official handles giving out credible information, there are a few mischievous elements that use the platform to spread panic. Therefore, the following tips on finding credible information and communicating effectively on Twitter can help in combating the Coronavirus fake news issue in India.

Tips to Fight the Coronavirus Fake News Predicament on Twitter

Twitter, in its blog, has mentioned the following tips, which can help in gathering credible and relevant information from the platform:

• Follow trusted sources and make use of the dedicated Coronavirus search prompt to access content from credible sources. Twitteratis can turn on notifications for the relevant and official accounts, such as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (@MoHFW), @WHO@PMO, PIB Fact Check and so on.
• Refer to Twitter’s dedicated bilingual events page for the latest facts around Coronavirus from verified sources. People in India can see this page on the top of their home timeline. The timeline also lets people track developments around the latest social distancing and healthcare information.
• Users can make their Tweets relevant by using the most relevant hashtags in their Tweets to be able to join in the larger conversations. For example, to follow Tweets on India’s efforts and actions to combat the virus, #IndiaFightsCorona is a suitable hashtag.
• The public must Tweet, Retweet and engage with content responsibly. They must ensure that the source of their information is credible. Misinforming or being misinformed by sharing unverified messages or screenshots unless they have originated or been verified from an authoritative source must be avoided at all costs.
• Follow verified national and regional journalistic accounts to stay updated with the latest information and news around Coronavirus in a global, national and regional context.
• If one sees a Tweet that is spreading rumors and myths about Coronavirus or is simply in violation of Twitter Rules, the tweet in question must be reported. Tagging Twitter employees or Twitter company accounts does not escalate reports. To report a Tweet, users must click the dropdown menu at the top of the Tweet.
• Users can customize their experience by unfollowing and blocking mischievous accounts. Users can also make a list of accounts they want to follow, and enable or disable direct messages and notifications accordingly.