Local MP Maria Miller has welcomed Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media Panel resources to debunk common misconceptions or harmful claims about Coronavirus and help Basingstoke constituents to cut through the Covid-19 confusion
Ofcom’s new research found that:
- Almost half of UK adults have been exposed to false claims about the virus. Most (55%) ignore false claims about the virus and few look into the details of the claims. Fifteen per cent are using fact-checking tips from the media, such as the BBC’s website, while a similar proportion (13%) are double-checking with friends and family. One in 14 people are forwarding on false or misleading information about the virus.
- Many people are finding it hard to know what is true and false about the virus. 40% agree with the statement, rising to more than half (52%) of 18-24 year olds.
Maria said, “Access to credible and trustworthy sources of information has never been more important. In these difficult times, Basingstoke constituents will understandably want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the Coronavirus pandemic. I am concerned about the false information shared adding to the anxiety and causing unnecessary worry at this difficult time.
I welcome Ofcom’s new research and urge all Basingstoke residents to use the online resources to seek out reliable content, find out who’s behind particular claims and to help us all to ‘share’ information responsibly.”
With the support of our Making Sense of Media Panel and Network, Ofcom has collected a set of resources that can help cut through the COVID19 confusion.
Many of these resources focus on debunking common misconceptions or harmful claims about Coronavirus. But there are also some useful tips on how to seek out reliable content, how to tell fact from fiction, and how to find out who’s behind particular claims. Ofcom also included a section for families, to help parents support their children’s critical understanding during this time. There are also resources from around the world that people in the UK will find useful.
The resource is available here