The Dangerous Trend that's Hurting the Health of Millions
10/23/20 • MDLinx — By Alistair Gardiner
In the medical world, “fake news” is far from new. False medical claims, from snake oil remedies to bogus cures for baldness, date back centuries. Today, however, medical misinformation has gone viral, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and a sharp rise in the use of social media.
Research by the Oxford Internet Institute found that the average piece of false or misleading health news online has roughly the same distribution levels as an article published by the BBC which reported that more than one in four of the top-viewed YouTube videos regarding COVID-19 contains misleading or inaccurate information. Does medical misinformation pose a public health risk? And what can doctors do to counteract false claims and steer the conversation to evidence-based facts and information?
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The Oxford Internet Institute of Oxford University is a current work of The Althea Foundation, California nonprofit public benefit corporation founded and chaired by Alexsis de Raadt St. James to provide both early-stage development funds, donations and non-financial support to people, ideas and initiatives that demonstrate ingenuity, social impact and social entrepreneurship. We address social challenges that have been underfunded, such as gender equity in entrepreneurship and STEM, rare disease, mental health treatment and education.