In recent days, the world’s largest social media platforms have been pulling out all the stops to combat the wave of false reports, hacking attempts and outright lies that have spread like wildfire about COVID-19.

People are sharing rumours, fake stories and half-truths about COVID-19 with each other directly across the likes of Instagram and Twitter as they struggle to understand how best to protect themselves and their families. And that’s proving to be a serious problem.

People by nature take cues from other people and they may be more likely to panic-buy if they see other people posting about their panic-buying. We’re seeing a worrying trend where specific behaviours triggered by fear and anxiety such as loading up on toilet rolls or hand sanitisers get normalised and further diffused because they are constantly discussed on social media.

The flip side could be true, too if people see photos their friends out and about on Instagram, ignoring the call to practice social distancing, they might be more likely to go out, too.

One cannot argue that the greatest source of stress presently has been the tortuous process of watching the news unfold on social media. It has mirrored and amplified our fears to levels we never experienced before.

The World Health Organisation dubbed the new coronavirus “a massive ‘infodemic’,” referring to an overabundance of information, some accurate and some not that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.

It’s a distinction that sets the coronavirus apart from previous viral outbreaks. While SARS, MERS and Zika all caused global panic, fears around the coronavirus have been especially amplified by social media. It has allowed misinformation to spread and flourish at unprecedented speeds, creating an environment of heightened uncertainty that has fuelled anxiety and racism in person and online.

For its part, the WHO has attempted to address the issue by partnering with Twitter and Facebook to clamp down on misinformation. It recently launched a Google SOS alert, for example, to push WHO information to the top of people’s search results for coronavirus-related queries. It has also been working with Facebook to target specific populations and demographics with ads that provide important health information. It has even gone so far as to reach out to influencers in Asia to try to keep disinformation at bay.

It [social media] has mirrored and amplified our fears to levels we never experienced before

But the sheer avalanche of content has overwhelmed the coordinated efforts to clear out all the noise. This, in turn, has created a breeding ground for xenophobic content. Racist memes and slurs have proliferated on Facebook. Some teens have even gone about faking a coronavirus diagnosis to earn more social media clout. This online toxicity has also translated into in-person interactions.

Asians have faced outright racism and harassment, and Chinatowns and Chinese restaurants have seen business lag.

But as much as social media has perpetuated disinformation, it has been an important source of verified information as well. Journalists around the world have used Chinese social media to gain a more accurate picture of the situation and gathered and archive verified reports for posterity.

The volume of personal anecdotes and reports that circulate every day about the ground truth in China has also pressured the government to release more accurate information about the crisis.

In the early days, for example, several doctors took to social media to raise alarms about the severity of the situation. Though the government swiftly reprimanded them and moved to control the flow of information, their warnings went viral, likely accelerating the government to be more forthcoming about the reality.

Later, when one of the doctors, Li Wenliang, died from the sickness, Chinese platforms lit up with an outpouring of anguish and rage, questioning the government’s decision and authority. The discontent was so pervasive that it thwarted censors. 

In a strange way, social media has also become a space for collective grieving. Stories of despair and kindness abound. Alongside expressions of fear from people stuck in quarantine and from patients unable to receive treatment are also anecdotes of people donating, volunteering and helping one another in unexpected and generous ways. 

If you believe all you read or hear in social media reports, Armageddon is coming. But then we’re told the antidote is to wash your hands and keep them away from your face. The solution doesn’t seem to be proportionate to the threat. Knowledge is definitely power, and in the case of the coronavirus, it’s power over ourselves and power to use social media responsibly.

Patrick J. O. Brien is communications expert