"Fake news is the real virus!" (2020) - Fiction and reality

Extract

[...] "Fake news is the real virus " (2020) - Fiction and reality In May 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, a protester in California held a sign sharing a worrying idea. By calling fake news the real virus, they meant that lies and false claims about COVID-19 were actually a bigger problem than the disease itself. The first months were really uncertain and confusing times: no one knew much about the new coronavirus or how to stop it. [...]

[...] For teens using social media daily, it was really difficult to separate truth from fiction swirling around. Mistaking obvious lies for solid facts puts people in danger, just like the virus itself. However, not all questionable information is meant to fool people on purpose. Satire and parody, while blurring reality, are intended to make commentary instead of misleading. It shows how what counts as reality versus fiction can depend on the intent and how it's interpreted. The message of the protest is that it's extremely important to very carefully separate established facts from unproven claims, real truth from just rumors spreading around. [...]

[...] While different types of non-facts have their place, prioritizing what's really true is vital for maintaining a clear grasp of what's going on, especially during an "infodemic" that directly puts people's health at risk. In this way, the sign connects how important it is to distinguish real from made-up when dealing with a fast-moving global health crisis like the pandemic. Does this help explain the key points in a more accessible way? Let me know if any part needs more clarification. [...]