Research article of International Journal of Communications and Networks
FACT-CHECKING: AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO COMBAT FAKE NEWS ON HEALTH IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Esther Gomes Muniz Rocha¹*, Josué Miguel de Oliveira¹, Kelly Cristina Pereira de Araújo¹, Maria Eduarda Santos Teperino Abreu¹, Mariana Rodrigues Sandes da Silva¹, Thais Ranielle Souza de Oliveira¹.
¹Centro Universitário Euro-Americano (UNIEURO)
Objective: To demonstrate the importance of Fact-Checking tools in combating health fake news in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Quantitative descriptive study, conducted during the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic. Fake news were accounted and identified through the website chequeado.com, registered in the Agência Lupo and Aos Fatos checking platforms, belonging to the International Fact-Checking Network, an international understanding with recognized news verification methodologies. The registered news originated from the social media/networks Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, and websites. They were later classified according to content in Conspiracy Theory, Prevention/Treatment/Cure, Authorities/Agency Measures, Situation of a city, state and country, Causes, Symptoms, Public Figure and False Context.
Results: 529 fake news about coronavirus were obtained, of these 306 were from the Agência Lupo platform, and 223 from the Aos Fatos platform. A total of 99 (18.72%) fake news were about Conspiracy Theory 99 (18.72%) Authorities/Agency Measures and 98 (18.53%) False Context. As for the origin of fake news 382 (72.21%) were from Facebook and 67 (12.66%) from Whatsapp.
Conclusion: The Fact-Checking tools in combating misinformation on social networks are important because they deny false news, unlikely allegations, and no justification related to the Covid-19 pandemic. These check sites alert social networks, policymakers, and the public to create measures that educate and protect the integrity and health of individuals and prevent them from falling victim to misinformation.
Keywords: Pandemia. Fake News. Covid-19.
How to cite this article:
Esther Gomes Muniz Rocha, Josué Miguel de Oliveira, Kelly Cristina Pereira de Araújo, Maria Eduarda Santos Teperino Abreu, Mariana Rodrigues Sandes da Silva, Thais Ranielle Souza de Oliveira. FACT-CHECKING: AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO COMBAT FAKE NEWS ON HEALTH IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC.International Journal of Communications and Networks, 2021, 4:10. DOI: 10.28933/ijcn-2021-05-2005
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