Social media, and media in general, has played an important role in the way people perceive information about Covid-19. According to Pew Research, “Four in ten Americans say social media is an important way of following Covid-19 information.” Everyone knows that social media is the number one source of spreading false information, and when it comes to Covid-19 information, this can cause serious issues.
Media has always been important to the American lifestyle for receiving news, but since the start of Covid-19 in 2020, media coverage has ramped up in an attempt to keep up with all of the new information. The role of media communication is an essential part of our society, especially for things as serious and big as Covid-19. But can watching too much news harm the way you view things?
Hearing devastating news such as the number of Covid deaths or how it has negatively impacted so many people’s lives can be hard to hear and cause unnecessary stress on a lot of people. Constantly checking new updates on social media can create negative thoughts. Staying up to date with Covid-19 is very important in today’s society, but overwhelming yourself with scary statistics and stories isn’t always a good thing.
Especially in social media, false information is a large portion of what people read. Content creators are not known for giving super reliable information. On the other hand, social media can be a great way to spread new information really fast. Social media does an excellent job of spreading current events as they are happening and keeping people updated. The main focus is just making sure you are fact checking what you read online. Make sure any news you read comes from a reliable source and is accurate.
Overall, media coverage on Covid-19 can be a good thing. It keeps people informed on new mandates, how to stay safe, vaccine information, and so much more. Making sure all the information you are receiving is factual and current, and that it comes from a valid source, is the number one most important thing to keep in mind.