Coronavirus news is the main conversation topic basically everywhere, right? Well, what if we told you that a good proportion of the news surrounding coronavirus, is fake?
If you have you read your local news website recently, you'll see a lot of news articles saying things that are overly optimistic, overly pessimistic, some are waffle, some make sense, and others are a complete shambles. The harsh reality is, news websites are going to alter news stories to generate more traffic, even in tragic times like these.
Coronavirus Vaccine News
Ah yes - the key we need to fix this pandemic - Without an effective vaccine, we will just have to adapt to life with this kind of virus. News articles, however, are throwing out stories and rumours that vaccines might be ready in 6 months, 2 years, and some have said 36 years! The truth is, nobody knows whether a vaccine is even possible... We have never made one before, but science is also more advanced than ever before.
Some news companies will have "Fake" stories, not fake because they're untrue, but because they're reporting from the opinion of somebody who has no dealings or expertise in the vaccine industry, and without getting the view from a qualified vaccinologist, it can be easy to assume all kinds of outcomes for when this so-called vaccine could be ready (if at all).
There are reports that Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, is out to get us, conspiracy theories like these get us nowhere. These fake stories are used as clickbait because the topic is trending and people will see the big bold letters of CORONAVIRUS, and instantly read.
Contact Tracing Apps Breaching Privacy?
The contact tracing apps released over the world were always going to be subject to scrutiny. News companies themselves are the biggest culprits, however, with some saying the apps having permanent tracking, access to all of your contacts and photos, with some articles even saying they can access your camera. The bulk of this isn't true, and is only used to spread fear and confusion among readers who are sceptical - This puts the news companies at the centre of attention though, which is all that counts really, right?
Contact tracing apps only use a Bluetooth signal to work out whether you have been in close contact with another person infected with COVID-19, the person infected will report this themselves, and this is completely voluntary. The Bluetooth signal is the only access the government has, and from this, they can contact or notify you to advise that you should either check for symptoms or in some countries, such as here in Singapore, to self-isolate as soon as you have been made aware.
What's The Advice For Readers Out There?
Don't trust news articles if the source of the information isn't from a qualified scientist who is relevant and knows what they're talking about. An economist cannot predict when a vaccine will be ready, but they can predict how jobs will fare. As for contact tracing, the governments of the world would never be forgiven if data breaches became a real issue from their applications - So take assurance to the fact that your privacy is the number one priority, as well as your health. Listen to the authorities, do your part and hopefully, the world will pull through this, all the way until a vaccine arrives (If it arrives!).
