Dealing with fake health information during the coronavirus pandemic
We are all aware that not everything you read on social media can be trusted. Even when it comes to Coronavirus there are people who are spreading false information and we need to be careful what we believe. Below is a good article from the HSE on this. You can access this article and more at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
Dealing with fake health information during the coronavirus pandemic
Some online content can contain misinformation also known as “fake news”. This can be information that is completely false, not fully accurate or not supported by experts.
Health is important to everyone. This is why false or misleading health information is a big problem.
It is really important to question where information has come from. Take your time to check it out against reliable sources of information. This will help you decide if you can trust the advice.
We can help to stop the spread of misinformation by learning how to spot it, not believing it and not sharing it with others.
The problem with fake health information
Fake news about health may give you the wrong advice about how best to manage your health and wellbeing. If you take false information as fact, it may mislead you into making the wrong decisions. It can also cause unnecessary worry and confusion.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it may change your behaviour and attitudes towards:
- the virus
- other people
- how to protect yourself and others
Why people create fake news
The aim of misinformation and fake news is to influence your views and behaviour.
People who create fake news may wish to:
- get more visits to a website – known as “click-bait”
- get private information from users – for example, “phishing scams”
- counteract accurate information with false information
- cause panic
- show popularity by how many people the message reaches
Why people share fake news
Sharing health-related information is normal. We want to prevent the spread of infection and tackle the problem by supporting each other. This is generally done with good intentions.
Sometimes people trust and share information even though it is not trustworthy.
We may do this because:
- the information is similar to our own beliefs or views
- there is a sense of urgency to help others, particularly with the elderly or vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic
- it seems accurate because other similar information and announcements have been shared online
Question where information has come from and take your time to decide if you trust it before sharing it.
How misinformation may appear
Misinformation can be difficult to spot. It can be a mix of accurate and inaccurate information. There can be some information from reliable sources with some from unreliable sources.
Some misinformation messages have contained some accurate information mixed with inaccurate information. For example, accurate information about washing your hands and social distancing measures mixed in with false details about coronavirus or protection measures. This combination makes the piece untrustworthy overall.
Other misinformation messages are completely inaccurate. For example, false information about activities involving the armed forces, government measures other than the official guidance and stories about treatment which are not supported by experts.
Some misinformation messages try to gain your trust by claiming to come from a reliable source. For example, a close friend or family of a member of an Gardaí or the defence forces. This is to try and reassure you that the information is trustworthy and worth sharing.
How to spot and deal with misinformation
The best way to deal with misinformation is to not share messages you don’t trust.
Question the source
Question the source of the information and identify who the author is. Are they trustworthy? If you are not sure, look for more information.
Find other sources of information
Identify other sources of information and compare them to the message and fact check.
Don’t share chain messages
Do not share chain messages with health-related information without a trusted source.
Talk to the sender
If you think you have received an inaccurate message, speak with the person who sent it. Highlight that the information might not be accurate. Direct them to the HSE or other official information sources.
Consider the intention of the message
Think about whether there is a financial motive or an attempt to deceive you. It could also just be for the creator’s enjoyment – this is known as “trolling”.
Speak with friends and family
Speak with your friends and family about social media messages or online discussions. Make sure people close to you are not putting their trust in false information.
Advice for parents
Many young children and adolescents will be reading and hearing the same misinformation.
Talk to them about how to deal with misinformation. Have an open conversation to discuss any concerns they have about coronavirus.
Read the Irish Internet Safety Office resource about news and false information.
Reliable health information sources
Websites where you can find reliable information about coronavirus:
- Health Service Executive
- Department of Health
- World Health Organisation
- European Centre for Disease Control
HSE on social media
We are advertising on social media platforms to reach a large audience with our expert validated content about coronavirus.
We are working in partnership with Google, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Users in Ireland are now directed to HSE.ie content when they search for coronavirus information on those platforms.
For example, if you search for information about coronavirus on Twitter, you will see ‘Know the facts’ and a link to our coronavirus content.
Here’s how it looks on Facebook and Instagram.
We continue to publish factual information on all our social channels.
You can get our updates by joining us on:
Beware of criminals pretending to be the World Health Organisation – WHO.int
Content supplied by Dr. Liam Challenor
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I thought it may be useful to share the link to the guide - https://switcher.ie/broadband/guides/how-to-keep-your-children-safe-online/ - which you can include on your website ahead of Safer Internet Day, to help parents and children who may need some extra support. We've also put together some handy top tips you can use on your website: 10 tips to keep your children safe online
- How to reduce the risks online
- How to recognise cyber bullying and grooming
- How to educate children on cyber safety
- How to set up parental controls on devices
- Talk about it:Make time to chat about online risks and how to use the internet safelyas soon as they're old enough to go online. Encourage your children to speak to you about what they view online and empower them to act if they're worried about anything.
- Recognise the risks: Educate yourself about the potential dangers children could face online so it’s easier to spot warning signs. Get to know what platforms your children use, and learn about dangers such as phishing, grooming and cyberbullying.
- Teach the do's and don'ts: Be clear about the non-negotiables. For example, teach your child not to share personal details or photos with strangers and instruct them not to click on links to unknown websites or texts. Do encourage your child to question what they see and only accept friend requests from people they know.
- Spot the signs: Pay attention to your children's behaviour whilst on and off their devices. Being alert to changes in your child can help prevent problems from escalating. Some warning signs are withdrawing from friends or family, sleeping and eating problems or losing interest in previously loved hobbies or interests.
- Set boundaries:Let your children know what they can and can't do on the internet from the get-go. Agree on what devices they can use, when, and how long they can spend online. As they get older, explaining and negotiating boundaries may be more effective.
- Take 'parental' control: These ready-made boundaries put parents in control of what children can see online. They can be set up through your internet provider at device level to block specific websites and filter out inappropriate content.
- Be social media savvy: The popularity of social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat makes it harder to keep track of what your child is accessing online. Fortunately, each social media platform has its own privacy settings and safety tips for parents. Check them out before you let children have their own accounts.
- Protect from harm:Install antivirus software on family devices to minimise the risk of cyber attacks or scams. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security on your online accounts. This can also stop children from signing into services they're not allowed to use.
- Set a great example: You're the greatest 'influencer' in your children's lives when they're young. Limiting your time online, discussing dangers you've come across, and questioning what you view can help reinforce the rules you are setting for your children and, in turn, influence their online behaviour.
- Seek support:The more you learn about online dangers, the better equipped you'll be to handle them. There are some great resources like webwise.ie, internetmatters.organd cybersafekids.ie to help you recognise and reduce online dangers and seek advice if you think your child is experiencing cyberbullying or is at risk online.
Short videos on the Importance of Play have recently launched which was a collaboration between North Central CFSN and Lifestart Services. Volume 1 https://youtu.be/xl2F2vZXhbg Volume 2 https://youtu.be/OOy4lmWggtM Volume 3 https://youtu.be/tmv40--l7fA Volume 4 https://youtu.be/Wr9bfTWddts Volume 5 https://youtu.be/7HLkBXvVTFE Volume 6 https://youtu.be/NuUXb51qZY0
Infant Mental Health Awareness Week runs from June 13th-19th.
This week provides an opportunity to focus attention on the wellbeing, social and emotional development of our babies and young children. It highlights the importance of early relationships and a relationship based approach to interventions with infants and families. As our understanding of IMH and its evidence base develops, so also does our knowledge of how to apply this knowledge and an ‘IMH lens’ to interactions with infants, parents and caregivers in health and social services.
What is infant mental health?
Infant Mental health (IMH) refers to the healthy social and emotional development of Infants starting at conception up to three years of age.
The first 1000 days of life are recognised as a critical period of opportunity to support infant mental health. Decades of research have shown that it is the quality of the early caregiver relationship that is a significant determinant of the infant’s healthy social and emotional development and in turn physical health, right up to adulthood.
The National Healthy Childhood Programme has embedded IMH as the foundation of the development of its resources and in the approach of the delivery of the universal child health service. This embedding of key messages can be seen in the My Child suite of books (www.mychild.ie/books) and also on www.MyChild.ie where key messages around bonding and relationship building have been embedded for the parent/caregiver.
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Throughout the week you will see videos and key IMH messaging being promoted on the HSE MyChild social media pages ( Facebook / Instagram ). Keep an eye out in the National Newspapers for articles from our experts also. (IrishTimes article)
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These videos (2-3 minutes each) are aimed at parents/guardians of children (0 – 3 years).
These new video resources are available here while lots more expert advice for every step of pregnancy, baby and toddler health can also be found at www.mychild.ie
There are a suite of posters available focusing on the promotion of IMH messaging to order from healthy.childhood@hse.ie