We’re currently caught up in a whirlwind of hysteria and sensationalist headlines, fearing for our lives as coronavirus spreads across the world. But as coverage of the health crisis has increased, a swirl of misinformation has inevitably spread across social media and through viral WhatsApp messages and TikTok memes. Understandably, that’s causing some people a lot of anxiety, and to that end the World Health Organisation (WHO) has taken to the platform most teens populate right now, TikTok, to ensure everybody is aware of the facts.
The move is a sensible one. The novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, is scary, but before we lose our heads it’s important to be a bit more measured about things: to know the facts, how to look after yourself, and the best way to stay on top of the virus in a way tabloid newspapers would lead you to believe isn’t possible.
“We are joining @tiktok to provide you with reliable and timely public health advice!” the first post from WHO on TikTok read. “Our first post: How to protect yourself from the #coronavirus.” The easily digestible and reliable morsel of advice has racked up over 300,000 views already.
The move from WHO onto these social media platforms came amidst a rise of memes and pranks that, for those still trying to make sense of the outbreak, might have been treated as fact in terms of how the disease spreads. Two Instagram pranksters dressed in hazmat suits on the New York subway, carrying a bucket of red liquid they claimed contained the coronavirus, “accidentally” spilled the contents across a carriage, causing mild hysteria among passengers. Following outrage from the public about how irresponsible this was, the video has since been deleted.
So if you want to know how to protect your health, but you don’t want to give yourself an unnecessary panic attack, you can now officially look to TikTok for solid advice. Just be sure you’re checking out the right places!