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Stop the spread of coronavirus rumors
True or false?
True or false?
It's smart to learn about coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. You can find good information about the virus on trusted sites like these:
✅New York Times ✅ Center for Disease Control ✅NPR
However, there are also false rumors posted on social media and elsewhere. Some of these rumors can even be dangerous.
What if you read or hear something, but you don't know if it's true?
What if you read or hear something, but you don't know if it's true?
Use Google to search for the information in the rumor or advice. Look at what other websites say.
Websites like Snopes.com will tell you whether to believe it or not. Newspapers will publish articles on myths and facts.
When you use Google to find out what other websites say about a rumor or news source, this is called lateral reading.
Lesson intro video (3 min)
Lesson intro video (3 min)
TRY THIS: This Facebook post says sipping water every 15 minutes prevents COVID-19. True ✅ or false ❌?
TRY THIS: This Facebook post says sipping water every 15 minutes prevents COVID-19. True ✅ or false ❌?
❓❓❓How do you know if this post is true?
❓❓❓How do you know if this post is true?
Does drinking water really wash a virus down into your stomach, where stomach acid kills it?
To find out, open a new tab and Google "drinking water prevents coronavirus".
Now look at the results:
This rumor is ❌ FALSE ❌.
This rumor is ❌ FALSE ❌.
You don't even have to open any of the links to see that this is false!
For more on how to "read laterally" to find out what's true, watch this video (3:47).
For more on how to "read laterally" to find out what's true, watch this video (3:47).
✅ Civic Reasoning Online (Stanford) is a reliable source.
Note to teachers: activities get progressively more difficult as students work through them; 3-5 are much more challenging. Videos explain each conclusion and demonstrate the steps taken.
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