Leveraging volunteer fact checking to identify misinformation about COVID-19 in social media

Leveraging volunteer fact checking to identify misinformation about COVID-19 in social media

Hyunuk Kim, Dylan Walker

Identifying emerging health misinformation is a challenge because its manner and type are often unknown. However, many social media users correct misinformation when they encounter it. From this intuition, we implemented a strategy that detects emerging health misinformation by tracking replies that seem to provide accurate information. This strategy is more efficient than keyword-based search in identifying COVID-19 misinformation about antibiotics and a cure. It also reveals the extent to which misinformation has spread on social networks.

2020

Public health, covid-19, social media, disinformation, twitter, fact-checking

10.37016/mr-2020-021

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Communication. Mass media, Information technology