Essay Sample about COVID‐19 and Misinformation

COVID-19 has become one of the most common matters of public discourse since its official declaration as a pandemic on March 11,2020. The pandemic continues to drastically impact almost every aspect of our lives while simultaneously forcing us to conform to the new norms of society fighting against a contagious disease. We live in a divisive society where political, moral and all other sorts of conflict are common. And while these “conflicts” can take place in a civilized manner through proper public discourse, however more times than often the diametrically opposing views on a topic have detrimental effects on society by starting a wildfire of misinformation. With the colossal advancements in technology the general population has access to an unlimited array of information regarding any subject matter; This aids individuals and organizations striving to educate the general population and establish a common good. However, this platform that allows all individuals to share their own thoughts and opinions can have rather detrimental effects as well. This is no different for the case of the public discourse surrounding COVID. Since the beginning there has been a seemingly infinite supply of absurd theories regarding COVID. This has given birth to a militia of COVID conspiracy theorists who keep spreading the disease of misinformation by exploiting the platform they have been given, expanding their militia. This works against the common good of the people as it does not lead to a common good rather defies the work of professionals who working towards establishing a common ground therefore contradicting the nature of an ideal public discourse. I will be discussing the most controversial aspects of the public discourse surrounding COVID that has manifested a new pandemic we call misinformation.

Multiple research faculties took the responsibility of conducting studies that allowed us to look at the most common misinformation that are being circulated. One of the largest of such study was conducted by Cornell University where they conducted analysis on over thirty-eight million articles published and discovered over a million of them contained misinformation. The conspiracies ranged from labelling COVID as a manmade bioweapon to labelling Dr.Anothony Fauci and Bill Gates members of a secret elite society conspiring to assert world dominance. Below is an infographic on the findings of the researchers.

After glancing over numerous other studies conducted concerning the spread of misinformation, what I have observed is that the most common conspiracies circulate around “Miraculous cures”, “New world order” and more recently conspiracies regarding the vaccine.

One of the most common hoaxes concerning “miraculous cures” for covid was that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine cure covid. Other popular rumors included the claim that Ivermectin, a medication that is used to treat parasite infestations can also be used to cure covid patients. These were only the most prominent and absurd rumors that circulated amongst the many other. The conspiracy was so widespread that officials had to step in and inform the general population about the consequences of using these medications. It went to the extent where black markets were set up selling these “miraculous cures”. 

The “New World Order” conspiracy started to gain momentum when an Australian health official used the term “New World Order” during her speech about COVID-19 guideline update. In her speech she said “"We will be looking at what contact tracing looks like in the new world order. Yes, it will be pubs and clubs and other things if we have a positive case there.” The theorists took the word out of context, and it soon began to circulate through the internet with the theory making it to the trending pages of multiple different popular social media platforms. This led to misinformed public resisting covid guidelines such as lockdowns and the mandatory wearing of masks that further acted as a catalyzer to the spread of COVID.

The more recent and more popular conspiracies are surrounding the COVID vaccines. Amongst many the most common conspiracies are: “vaccines don’t work”, “vaccines cause the variants of covid”, “vaccine makes women infertile” and “the vaccine includes a microchip”. All of these rumors have created anti-vaccine tribes refusing to get jabbed under any circumstance. Multiple health officials have stood up and addressed all these conspiracies to prevent further misguidance and encourage the masses to get vaccinated.

When it comes to issues concerning the health of the general population it must be prioritized and proper public disclosures must take place. As Mortimer Seller quotes in his essay “Ideals of Public Discourse”: "Public discourse" signifies speeches, publications and other statements made in pursuit of the public good. If (as it is for republicans) the sole aim of government, laws and the state is to serve the common good of the people.” (2003 p1). All public discourses should eventually lead to a more educated and united society. All the issues I mentioned above create an unethical public discourse that does not educate the public neither does it allow members to come to a common ground. I have only highlighted the relatively more controversial aspects of the unethical disclosure surrounding covid leaving the multiple other aspects unraveled.