MODULE PAPER

CORONA VIRUS : NEGATIVE IMAPCT OF SOCIAL MEDIA – MEASURES TO OVERCOME THESE

IMPACTS

By Brig Neeraj Gosain, India, Ser No 23

Introduction

1. The humankind is in the middle of a global crisis because of the Corona virus. It seems
to be the largest crisis witnessed in the recent past. The decisions, we as a human race take
in the next few weeks or months will probably shape the world for the coming generations.
They will shape every aspect of our lives starting from healthcare systems, economy, politics
and even religion and culture. We thus need to act quickly and decisively and most
importantly with vigour and determination. We will have to take into account the long-term
consequences of our actions. As the Corona virus spreads in the entire globe, the social
media platforms like facebook, whatts app, twitter, digital media etc etc, which did not exist or
barely existed during the previous major pandemic, is facilitating passage of information in
the entire globe in real time- while at the same time allowing sensationalism and
misinformation to spread. The social media can both give us the tool we need to make smart
and wise decisions, but also make us more anxious about what is to come. The social media
may be doing more harm or good is a matter of perception and in the coming months we will
know its impact.

Aim

2. The aim of this paper is to analyse the negative impacts of social media related to
corona virus and suggest measures to overcome these impacts.

Negative Impact of Social Media

3. There is no denying the fact that the spread of information on corona virus has been
faster than the spread of the virus itself and hence has been either compounded the problem
or in other terms it may be preventing a large numbers of deaths. Well, Social media has got
the power to pass on a lot of information which may be misleading, inaccurate and ill
informed thus causing panic amongst the population. Fake news, mis-information and
sensationalism may cause a lot of harm which has been witnessed by us in this particular
instance. Some of the examples are:-

(a) Panic/ Fear/ Anxiety amongst Population. The rapid rise in number of
infected persons and the death toll due to the virus was passed in real time and
caused panic amongst persons and even some governments. The uncertainty brought
 in some irrational actions by few who created panic, fear and anxiety amongst the
population.

(b) Panic Buying/ Hoarding. As the news of spread of virus percolated down
to common man and the likely hood of essential commodities vanishing, people
resorted to panic buying leading to haarding and even spread of infection as people
gathered and interacted in large numbers which would have led to interactionof
infected people with others. The rise in prices of essential commodities was also
exploited by many traders , wanting to exploit the situation.

(c) Incorrect Treatment Prescriptions on the Virus. Many hoax and incorrect
treatments were prescribed by many based on their hit and trial methods which could
only cause more harm to many.

(d) Spreading of false facts about Corona virus. False facts about the disease
and how deadly it is only created more panic and more problems for everyone and the
administration.

(e) Poor people/ Daily wage workers losing jobs. Many dailywages workers
would lose their jobs because of the panic created. Small scale industries shut down
because of fear and economic crises.

(f) Global recession due to panic – Economy – Trade etc. Lot of loss in trade due
to panic selling in share markets rendering many jobless and bankrupt.

(g) Misinformation fueling racism. Some information against certain race ,

nationality or religion was passed fuelling racism and discrimination even leading to
assault

(h) Conspiracy theories being promulgated against a nation to discredit it because

of difference in ideologies / trade war.

(j) Misused by Non State Actors, anti national elements and even some politicians
to create chaos and fuel protests and law and order problems.

(k) Spreading rumours, fake stories and half truth about the virus as people struggle
to understand how to best protect themselves and their families.

(l) Discrimination against a group of people or religion/ caste.

Measures to overcome Negative Impact of Social Media

4. Though there are many pitfalls of Social Media but there are some major advantages
also and if the government and the citizens are responsible, the social media can play a vital
role in mitigation of the pandemic. The strict measures which are needed to be adopted by
the government and the citizens are listed below:-

(a) Government Helpline and Promulgation of Authentic Information. The

government needs to, as quickly as possible launch a site and connect to maximum
citizens on the transparent picture on the pandemic and also measures instituted to
mitigate the problem. This should be passed the fastest and in real time.
Promulgation of certain authentic sites should be circulated by government. Fact
checking should be the norm. Fact vs Fiction – needs to be clarified as soon as
possible.

(b) The major social media giants like facebook, twitter, whatts app etc to monitor
fake news and take it off from net – censor it. The accounts of rouges could be
disabled.

(c) Strict laws by governments on misinformation – Chargeable as criminal

offence. Free speech is a right but misinformation and spreading panic should be
made into a criminal offence and action taken on the defaulters.

(d) Citizens should be educated via all electronic, digital and print media wrt
correct pictures of the situation and should be done regularly with the positive steps
taken by the administration.

(e) Transparency by Government agencies and citizens. Need to do responsible

forwarding or viewing opinion on social media.

(f) Information vacuum to be eradicated by regular briefings by important leaders

including the head of state and administrators and even popular celebrities.

(g) Limited Censor on irresponsible players.

(h) Surveillance by government agencies on social media in case required - in case

of emergency situations.

(j) Spreading more positive news and not all bad news. This will bring in more
positivity and will relax the nerves of many who may be suffering more due to anxiety
than the virus. The good work done by health workers, administrators and various
individuals needs to be incorporated. Every citizen has to play a role in mitigating this
problem and it is just not the job of the government alone.

(k) Irresponsible forwarding of fake and uncorroborated messages should be

avoided by each citizen. Only those messages should be forwarded which have been
promulgated by certified / nominated agencies by the government/ WHO.
Conclusion

5. Social media is a very powerful tool which has the potential to change the tide either way.
We as responsible citizens need to use it as a force multiplier to ensure positive results. The
governments need to be proactive and transparent and energise all available resources to
ensure a combined effort in mitigation of the pandemic. We all need to work together as one
identity to ensure social media is correctly used to curb and eliminate this pandemic and with the
will and positive use of this important tool, we can and we will win this war over Corona virus.