We ran a couple of articles in the recent past about spotting fake Covid-19 news, and tips about where to find reliable information. But since then, there has been a constant stream of misinformation about the coronavirus. We all want answers, but real, solid scientific knowledge takes a while and is complex. Recommendations from experts have evolved over time as there have been new developments, but that also confuses people. And so, rumor, snake-oil, and conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the gap as people search for answers that haven't yet appeared.
The Library is here to help, with resources that will help you distinguish between snake-oil and reality. Try some of the links below. Especially, phone scams are becoming even more common right now -- if someone calls you and wants money or information, do not respond! Scammers try to make you panic, because panic stops you from thinking.
The CDC has a page of information to counter rumors, and advice about how to proceed.
New York Times: Pandemic Scams People Are Falling For (NYT is granting free access to articles about COVID, but if you get blocked, go to the Butte County Public Library's e-resources page, scroll to the bottom, and take advantage of their free NYT access!)
FEMA is trying to corral the rumors with their Coronavirus Rumor Control page.
In fact, there are a lot of "rumor control" pages -- even the Department of Defense has one focused on military questions!
Last week a cut from a pseudo-documentary titled "Plandemic" went viral all over the internet, as people wondered whether it could contain true information. Even folks who were skeptical shared the video with comments like "What do you think? Interesting." The film looks very professional, which influences our perceptions of its accuracy, but in fact it's a highly manipulative collection of false statements and innuendo. It employs a common deceptive technique called the Gish Gallop, in which false claims, half-truths, and questions are piled up faster than they can be answered. This overwhelms the watcher and can cause a fearful response -- sometimes even panic. Often it makes people feel that everything they thought they knew must have been lies -- but in fact that is just a natural emotional response to being bombarded. If you see something that uses this strategy, know that you are being subjected to a hostile, even abusive technique.
"Plandemic" made a lot of false claims (for example, Dr. Mikowitz was not arrested "for no cause;" she was arrested for theft). Here are some articles, and a video, that address them:
The journal Science fact-checks "Plandemic"
"If You Found That Plandemic Video Convincing, Read This Too"
David Gorski, a surgical oncologist, wrote a debunking article at Science-Based Medicine.
Forbes: Why It's Important to Push Back on "Plandemic" and How To Do It
A video of a doctor talking about "Plandemic":
A lot of people have complained that Youtube and Facebook have taken the video down, calling it censorship and against First Amendment rights. But Facebook and Youtube are not the government; they are private companies that have the right to take down content they deem harmful. While both companies try to let debate flow freely, they felt that the video was dangerous because it made claims that wearing masks will "activate" the virus and make people sick. You can read a NYT article about why it was taken down. If you wish to watch the video, it's still easy to find elsewhere.
Why are health conspiracies so popular now? Here are some interesting thoughts about that:
It's been an interesting semester, that's for sure. Here's hoping things will get better. Meanwhile, best of luck on your final week of classes, and remember the Library is here to help you find what you need! We'll be available for Summer session too; you can find us on the librarian chat, and when we're not doing that we'll be working on new tutorial videos and other online resources.
Hoping for more than this!
We found a couple of things that we'd like to share with you if you're wondering what you're going to do with your kids to survive a long, hot summer without day care or camps. Camp Kinda is a FREE online sort-of "camp" for kids K-8, with fun activities for online and off. The first week is about codes! Camp Kinda says:
If you want to give it a try, sign up with your email and the code KINDA2020. (The code is optional, and the camp is free. We have no idea why there's a code at all, but here you go.)
For older kids grades 7 - 12, there is a free week-long cybercamp! It's focused on online security, and it's a lot of fun. Head over to The NorCal Virtual Cybercamp webpage to see details:
Best of luck this summer!
Image by My pictures are CC0. When doing composings: from Pixabay