Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

Viral Misinformation: Navigating Coronavirus “News” on Social Media

May 28, 2020 Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Viral Misinformation: Navigating Coronavirus “News” on Social Media
Show Notes

The power of social media is in its speed and sprawl – but what do we know about social media use amidst a global pandemic? What happens when misinformation – from the 5G conspiracy to the Plandemic documentary – goes viral? How is misinformation about COVID-19 distinct from other forms of misinformation and how can we combat it?

Northwestern University Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Pablo J. Boczkowski and Dr. Claire Wardle, co-founder and director of the non-profit First Draft, addressed these questions and more, drawing on misinformation trends and 'infodemic' cases from around the world in a conversation on May 26, 2020 as part of  Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs’ Confronting COVID-19: Global Implications and Futures webinar series.