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’

Quote

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.

 

Specializes in Retired.
On 10/19/2020 at 6:52 PM, Matthew Prazak said:

I tend to stay away from the extremes. I will vote for him. Flat out, I do not like the Democratic Party's buy in of the UN 2030 initiative. Also don't see them doing anything to combat the effects of China's belt and road initiative. Blood on his hands? Not sure what that is all about

Boy, you really had to dig deep to come up these two particular issues as your hill to stand on.  Ridiculous when a country is losing it's battle so badly with a pandemic that people see as a personal attack on their 'freedom."  And you believe the Chinese delivered this viral bomb to the world.  If they did, why would they release it in their own country first?

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×

The country is not "losing its battle so badly with a pandemic". That is hyperbole. If I didn't know better I would think you were a headline writer for the MSM. Really, I am just going to call it out. That is a truly stupid statement. Alarmist. Only a retired person glued to the TV and news every day could come up with a totally unsupported wild and ridiculous theory like that. LMBO

You really want to know why COVID is spreading? Because every night, Donald Trump turns the COVID fairies loose to sprinkle COVID dust over the towns in the US and HE is giving it to everyone. That guy is really mean. He says mean things to people too. That's really super bad.

I heard that you said the Republicans released the virus on the Chinese so that they could blame them, then released it here in this country so that Trump could get it and boost his poll numbers. Is that true Undercat? Truly disturbing if even some of that is true.

Are we done here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
39 minutes ago, Matthew Prazak said:

The country is not "losing its battle so badly with a pandemic". That is hyperbole. If I didn't know better I would think you were a headline writer for the MSM. Really, I am just going to call it out. That is a truly stupid statement. Alarmist. Only a retired person glued to the TV and news every day could come up with a totally unsupported wild and ridiculous theory like that. LMBO

You really want to know why COVID is spreading? Because every night, Donald Trump turns the COVID fairies loose to sprinkle COVID dust over the towns in the US and HE is giving it to everyone. That guy is really mean. He says mean things to people too. That's really super bad.

I heard that you said the Republicans released the virus on the Chinese so that they could blame them, then released it here in this country so that Trump could get it and boost his poll numbers. Is that true Undercat? Truly disturbing if even some of that is true.

Are we done here?

LOL

Health professionals everywhere know that this country is not winning in efforts against covid. Reading opinions and analysis from across the globe allows a different perspective than does narrowly focused media consumption. 

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40020647.html

U.S. coronavirus cases and state maps: Tracking cases, deaths - Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/

"Sporificely populated areas don’t have the huge raw numbers that cities have reported, but some rank among the highest in deaths and cases per capita. People in very rural areas are more likely to die of flu than urbanites and may be more vulnerable to covid-19 as well, according to a Post analysis of CDC data."

How many states have rising numbers of cases and hospitalized covid patients? Is that a symptom of turning a corner in a pandemic...rising case numbers from community spread?

I don't know about you, but those case numbers and trending data doesn't represent a successful public health campaign strategy of mitigation to me.  Maybe you could provide some expert opinion or analysis which demonstrates how this pandemic mitigation is going according Trump's plan and is not an example of failed leadership. 

By the way, flippant dismissal of the president's responsibility in this pandemic only reflects your opinion of Trump.  Trump's misleading and false assertions about this virus have been irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. We've all heard them. Pretending that Trump's words matter less than Undercat's words is an amusing stance. 

Are you done here? I'm not done here. 

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

LOL

Health professionals everywhere know that this country is not winning in efforts against covid. Reading opinions and analysis from across the globe allows a different perspective than does narrowly focused media consumption. 

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40020647.html

U.S. coronavirus cases and state maps: Tracking cases, deaths - Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/

"Sporificely populated areas don’t have the huge raw numbers that cities have reported, but some rank among the highest in deaths and cases per capita. People in very rural areas are more likely to die of flu than urbanites and may be more vulnerable to covid-19 as well, according to a Post analysis of CDC data."

How many states have rising numbers of cases and hospitalized covid patients? Is that a symptom of turning a corner in a pandemic...rising case numbers from community spread?

I don't know about you, but those case numbers and trending data doesn't represent a successful public health campaign strategy of mitigation to me.  Maybe you could provide some expert opinion or analysis which demonstrates how this pandemic mitigation is going according Trump's plan and is not an example of failed leadership. 

By the way, flippant dismissal of the president's responsibility in this pandemic only reflects your opinion of Trump.  Trump's misleading and false assertions about this virus have been irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. We've all heard them. Pretending that Trump's words matter less than Undercat's words is an amusing stance. 

Are you done here? I'm not done here. 

Echo Chamber

Up Vote Up Vote ×

and russian propaganda too

Up Vote Up Vote ×
4 hours ago, Matthew Prazak said:

You really want to know why COVID is spreading? Because every night, Donald Trump turns the COVID fairies loose to sprinkle COVID dust over the towns in the US and HE is giving it to everyone. That guy is really mean. He says mean things to people too. That's really super bad.

I’ve always felt that your man has all the debating skill and persuasive talent of a malevolent gnat, status post-brainectomy. A bit harsh I guess, but that’s my perception.

Perhaps we can attempt to address each other here with a slightly higher level of intellectual acuity? I’m genuinely curious what you’re hoping to achieve with the paragraph I quoted? How will Trump ever win peoples’ hearts beyond his die-hard base when you and many of his other supporters interact this way with people who do not support him? He desperately needs to expand his base beyond the current died-in-the-wool contingent. Do you feel that you have an effective strategy? 

You come here making sarcastic remarks about Covid fairies and Covid dust to a bunch of nurses. You do realize that between us, we’ve held the hands of many thousands of patients with Covid-19 infections as they died? Ask us if we’re impressed by your jokes. 

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
51 minutes ago, macawake said:

I’ve always felt that your man has all the debating skill and persuasive talent of a malevolent gnat

You come here making sarcastic remarks about Covid fairies and Covid dust to a bunch of nurses. 

No, I replied to an individual. Not to you, not anyone else. And if you would be so kind, please spare me the fake outrage.

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
1 hour ago, Matthew Prazak said:

No, I replied to an individual. Not to you, not anyone else. And if you would be so kind, please spare me the fake outrage.

 

I realize that your post was in response to a poster. I was just informing you about something that ought to be extremely obvious. The way you chose to word your reply has a very low chance of being well received on a nursing forum. 

No outrage. Whatever gave you that idea? 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
9 minutes ago, macawake said:
39 minutes ago, Matthew Prazak said:

No, I replied to an individual. Not to you, not anyone else. And if you would be so kind, please spare me the fake outrage.

 

I realize that your post was in response to a poster. I’m was just informing you about something that ought to be extremely obvious. The way you chose to word your reply has a very low chance of being well received on a nursing forum. 

No outrage. Whatever gave you that idea? 

This reminds me of an old southern adage:  You shouldn't wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig likes it.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
29 minutes ago, chare said:

This reminds me of an old southern adage:  You shouldn't wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig likes it.

You have a point, but I guess I don’t mind getting a bit dirty ? 

Back in my old career, some shifts you were put in charge of the cells at the police station. These shifts were generally spent in the company of a jolly assortment of a couple of dozen suspected thiefs, burglars, robbers, drunk drivers,rapists, wife beaters and the occasional murderer. After that kind of immersion practice I have a high tolerance for all sorts.. of discussions... My buttons are pretty much un-pushable ?

On a more serious note. I just think that there are some things that should not be left alone, but should be called out. This right here is of course just a microscopic part of the whole problem, but since I have the time and the energy, it might as well be me. 

 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
3 hours ago, Matthew Prazak said:

Echo Chamber

 

3 hours ago, Matthew Prazak said:

and russian propaganda too

Your feelings are noted.  Unfortunately, merely denying the obvious doesn't actually stop us from observing Trump as he engages in spreading lies, propaganda and misinformation about covid. 

 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

 

On 10/19/2020 at 3:52 PM, Matthew Prazak said:

I tend to stay away from the extremes. I will vote for him. Flat out, I do not like the Democratic Party's buy in of the UN 2030 initiative. Also don't see them doing anything to combat the effects of China's belt and road initiative. Blood on his hands? Not sure what that is all about

China's Belt and Road initiative only got traction because Trump backed out of the Trans Pacific Partnership.  We went from a US-centered trade arrangement to one where we get screwed thanks to his 'leadership'.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion