Social media apps take down fake ads, news on outbreak

NEW DELHI : Social media platforms are filling up with fake news about everything from herbal ‘cures’ to images mimicking government notifications, communal content, and audio clips warning of national emergency, amid the coronavirus pandemic, leaving government, civil society and media astounded.

The formats of the fake news range from text, photoshopped images, gifs, and videos, to audio clips.

The lockdown has led to a significant spike in users accessing and spending more time on social media. Users often use the internet to chat, watch videos, or access social media platforms, which have become their primary source of information.