The Composition Of Coronavirus Misinformation

Since the Covid-19 pandemic spread around the world, conspiracy theories, rumors, stigma and other forms of disinformation simultaneously spread across social media and online news platforms like wildfire. A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene gauged the spread of false information in 25 languages across 87 countries between December 31, 2019 and April 15, 2020, finding that it has indeed contributed to deaths and injuries.

This infographic is based on the study's findings, highlighting the composition of Covid-19 misinformation. Out of the 2,311 reports identified, 24 percent were related to illness, transmission and mortality, 21 percent comprised control measures and 19 percent were based on treatment and cures. A further 15 percent were linked to the cause of the disease, one percent comprised violence and 20 percent fell into the "miscellaneous" category.