President Trump was likely largest driver of COVID-19 misinformation “infodemic” per Cornell University study

Updated:   Published

Cornell University

Corona virus misinformation:quantifying sources and themes in the COVID-19‘ infodemic’

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Abstract:

The COVID19 pandemic has unfolded along side what the World Health Organization has termed an “infodemic” of misinformation. This study identifies and analyzes the most prominent topics of COVID related misinformation that emerged in traditional media between January  1 and May 26,2020  based on a total sample of over 38 million articles published in English-language media around the world.  To our knowledge, our analysis is the first comprehensive survey of the traditional and online media landscape on this issue. We found that media mentions of US President Donald Trump within the context of COVID-19 misinformation made up by far the largest share of the infodemic. Trump mentions comprised 37.9% of the overall misinformation conversation, well ahead of any other topics. We conclude that the President of the United States was likely the largest driver of the COVID-19 misinformation “infodemic”. Only 16.4% of the misinformation conversation was “fact-checking” in nature, suggesting that the majority of COVID misinformation is conveyed by the media without question or correction.

 

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5 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Since they didn't actually have a sit down dinner this outrage at what someone says was planned is amusing.  How many mask optional rallies and parties did Trump actually have during the pandemic?

Trump, moron that he is, at least was verbal about his disdain of masking, social distancing, etc. 

Pelosi is of the "everyone should mask, social distance, etc", so it is somewhat newsworthy that she wants to practice the opposite of what she preaches

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13 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Trump, moron that he is, at least was verbal about his disdain of masking, social distancing, etc. 

Pelosi is of the "everyone should mask, social distance, etc", so it is somewhat newsworthy that she wants to practice the opposite of what she preaches

Ah

So, she practiced what she preaches. No sit down dinner was held when the covid implications were noted.  That is modification of behavior...something not seen from Trump in 4 long years. He didn't modify behavior at all in the face of a pandemic. 

 

 

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2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Since they didn't actually have a sit down dinner this outrage at what someone says was planned is amusing.  How many mask optional rallies and parties did Trump actually have during the pandemic?

Fair enough as this is the Trump thread,  but she only backed down because of the criticism.  I will give her that because Trump never backed down when told his events were unsafe.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
2 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Trump, moron that he is, at least was verbal about his disdain of masking, social distancing, etc. 

Pelosi is of the "everyone should mask, social distance, etc", so it is somewhat newsworthy that she wants to practice the opposite of what she preaches

I don't think it was the opposite of what she preaches.  I think she had good intentions and was even bragging that it would be safe with social distancing, etc.  But it bit her in the butt.  She should have seen it coming. 

I do agree it's newsworthy.   (Not the lead story newsworthy (I would think the 184,000 new covid cases we posted yesterday would be the lead story, but this is Fox), but newsworthy)

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Although the president has consistently played down the pandemic, which has killed more than 240,000 Americans and infected more than 10 million people in the U.S., public health experts expressed worry about Trump’s silence on the troubling spike in cases, as well as his refusal to begin coordination on virus issues with Biden’s transition team.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/11/12/trump-stewing-over-election-loss-silent-as-virus-surges/

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Damn near 200k cases and over 1K deaths per day is slowly, but surely adding up. Will we have healthy people next Summer? I'm thinking we won't see a breakthrough until the end of next year or early 2022. We're in for the long haul.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Atlas: Rise Up

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On Sunday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced a three-week “pause to save lives,” closing colleges, high schools, workplaces and in-person dining as new coronavirus cases have spiked.

After she appealed to the Trump administration to intervene in the pandemic, White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas responded with a call to action. But instead of supporting Whitmer’s efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Michigan, he urged residents to reject the state’s public health guidelines.

“The only way this stops is if people rise up,” Atlas said in a tweet Sunday night, which quoted a reporter who had shared information about Whitmer’s new restrictions. “You get what you accept. #FreedomMatters #StepUp.”

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“Hey. I NEVER was talking at all about violence,” Atlas said in a follow-up tweet. “People vote, people peacefully protest. NEVER would I endorse or incite violence. NEVER!!”

I'm certain that Trump was pleased with the tweet...he loves that kind of division, it makes him feel powerful. 

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3 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Atlas: Rise Up

I'm certain that Trump was pleased with the tweet...he loves that kind of division, it makes him feel powerful. 

”The only way this stops is if people rise up”

Considering the Governor was recently the target of a terrorist kidnapping plot, this is particularly distasteful.

I have absolutely no confidence in that follow-up tweet. None.

Not enough unrest on the streets yet? 

I suspect a coordinated agenda here. 

And I think someone needs a refresher course in the concept of ”do no harm”. Stat. 
 

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16 hours ago, macawake said:

”The only way this stops is if people rise up”

Considering the Governor was recently the target of a terrorist kidnapping plot, this is particularly distasteful.

I have absolutely no confidence in that follow-up tweet. None.

Not enough unrest on the streets yet? 

I suspect a coordinated agenda here. 

And I think someone needs a refresher course in the concept of ”do no harm”. Stat. 
 

I do have to wonder about agenda when he singles out Michigan, a woman that has been much hated by Trump, when other states prior to Michigan entered lockdowns.   

I looked at bit at his other Tweets.  He also promoted his page on alt. right social media site "Perler".  He also promoted a picture of a Trump rally that has been proven to be photo shopped making it look like more people attended than did, (even I knew this) prior to him posting it.

Clearly he's a Trump lap dog and this bothers me. 

He's made dozens of posts about the vaccine.  Clearly his idea and Trump's policy is to get the vaccine and not worry about infections right now.

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1 hour ago, Tweety said:

I do have to wonder about agenda when he singles out Michigan, a woman that has been much hated by Trump, when other states prior to Michigan entered lockdowns.   

I looked at bit at his other Tweets.  He also promoted his page on alt. right social media site "Perler".  He also promoted a picture of a Trump rally that has been proven to be photo shopped making it look like more people attended than did, (even I knew this) prior to him posting it.

Clearly he's a Trump lap dog and this bothers me. 

He's made dozens of posts about the vaccine.  Clearly his idea and Trump's policy is to get the vaccine and not worry about infections right now.

Atlas is an example quakery. He has no business directing national pandemic policy. 

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Why is this so hard for Atlas to understand?  Just shows just how much he has checked out from reality.

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The accuracy! image.thumb.png.32528722c8507773e7c1ad7d11e01963.png

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Translation: I dedicate this work with all my heart to the dedicated and honorable staff of treatment who work tirelessly for the health of us and our loved ones day and night. Your hands are not kissing ❤️

 

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