Trump's COVID-19 Claims Spark Facebook's Fact-Check Intervention

Strategic Insights -

In a Wednesday morning interview on Fox News, Donald Trump claimed that children are "almost immune" to COVID-19, sparking concerns about the spread of misinformation. However, evidence suggests that this claim is not entirely accurate, and the virus can affect children and spread to more vulnerable groups. Trump also suggested that schools should reopen, stating that the virus will "go away." Facebook removed the video from the president's page after it was shared, citing a violation of its guidelines on misinformation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Children are not entirely immune to COVID-19, and some have died from the virus, despite having milder symptoms.
  • Research suggests that children can transmit the virus to more vulnerable groups, contradicting earlier evidence.
  • A South Korean study tracking transmission among 65,000 people found that children between 10 and 19 years old can transmit the virus as well as adults.
  • Another study suggested that children have similar viral loads to adults, indicating that they may be more capable of spreading the virus than previously believed.
  • The Trump campaign accused Facebook of bias for removing the video, claiming that the president was stating a fact.
  • Children are less likely to be tested for the virus due to its milder symptoms and the closure of schools for several months.
  • Social media companies are not the arbiters of truth, but they have a responsibility to regulate misinformation.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 65,000 people were tracked in a South Korean study on COVID-19 transmission.
  • Children between 10 and 19 years old can transmit the virus as well as adults, according to the South Korean study.
  • Children have similar viral loads to adults, indicating that they may be more capable of spreading the virus than previously believed.
  • The video was shared on Trump's Facebook page, violating the social network's guidelines on misinformation.

Sources:

(https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-outbreak-and-kids)

(https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/posts/10165216625615725)

(https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-removes-trump-post-over-coronavirus-information-n1235950)

(https://thenextweb.com/facebook/2020/06/27/facebook-will-label-politicians-posts-that-violate-its-policies-after-all/)

(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200730141324.htm)

(https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/health/coronavirus-children-schools.html)

(https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2768952)