What this story covers:
During the early days of COVID-19 on Towson University’s campus, misinformation spread quickly, which made it hard to know what sources to trust. Especially during a public health crisis, it’s important to know where to find accurate information.
Why it matters:
People increasingly get their news and information from social media. Some organizations try to help users sort fact from fiction. But it’s ultimately on individuals to be media literate and to stop spreading rumors and misinformation.
By Natalie Bland, Tim Klapac & Amber Wilson
In early March, less than a week before spring break, word began spreading on Towson University’s campus about a new, highly contagious virus. Within days, classes were cancelled, students and faculty sent home, lives disrupted. But before the university announced its plans, rumors filled the void. And they spread quickly.
“It was just word of mouth — what I had heard people say, what I would see on my timeline or on my various social media outlets,” said Towson student Rian Crump.
Added student Danielle Naumann: “It was really hard to figure out what was true and what wasn’t.”
Such is the reality of following a major news story in 2020. But this isn’t just any story — it is, for most students, the biggest news event of their lives. During a public health crisis, it’s critical to know where to find accurate information. But sorting fact from fiction isn’t easy.
In this podcast, we examine what it was like to live through those uncertain days in early March 2020, with COVID-19 rumors swirling. And we interview experts about what it takes to be a discerning media consumer.
Near the end of spring semester, COVID-19 had spread throughout the country.
Towson students had many ways of sharing news and unconfirmed information about COVID-19. On Twitter, some students had strong opinions about the university’s response.
News about COVID-19 came so rapidly, and there were so many announcements coming from the university, that it’s hard to remember what happened when. Here’s a look at how it played out:
Fake news about COVID-19 continues to be a problem. And there are many types of fake news. This typology can help you identify what kind of bogus information you’re seeing.
We all play a role in stopping the spread of fake news and using reliable sources to get our information.
“I think a big part of [stopping fake news] is limiting the sources of information that you turn to right now. You can’t view everything the same way. Obviously everybody’s going to infograze, everyone is going to scroll Twitter, but the places you turn to make decisions about whether you’ll leave your house or how you respond, you really have to turn to health authorities.”
Peter Adams, News Literacy Project
