As the spread of the novel Coronavirus continues to rise, many social media platforms are trying to help users get the most relevant information on the web. Facebook-owned Instagram recently announced that they are taking necessary steps that would lead users to credible sources for information on the COVID-19.
We’re removing known harmful misinformation related to COVID-19, and when someone taps on a hashtag related to COVID-19, we show resources from @WHO, @CDC and local health authorities. pic.twitter.com/Dw2Y8ZwfaI
So, now when you search for “Coronavirus” on Instagram and tap #coronavirus, a pop-up window comes up with the heading “Looking for coronavirus info?”. This pop-up includes the link to the official website of the World Health Organisation (WHO). You can tap “Go to who.int” and it will directly lead you to the WHO site for the latest updates.
Finally, we’re thinking through a longer term solution to help connect people searching COVID-19 related terms with credible information. In the meantime, we’re showing the accounts of leading health organizations in these searches to better connect people to credible resources. pic.twitter.com/RUNwJh94Cf
