COVID-19, Social Media, and the Role of the Public Physician

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an avalanche of information, much it false or misleading. Social media posts with misleading dangerous opinions and analyses are often amplified by celebrities social influencers; these have contributed substantially to this information. An emerging force information infodemic is public physicians, doctors who view a presence as large segment their mission. These physicians bring authority real-world experience the discussion. To investigate role we interviewed convenience cohort played infodemic. We asked about how roles changed, audience what politics plays, they address misinformation. noted increased size focus on pandemic. Most avoided confronting politics, but others found unavoidable that even if tried avoide it, would be brought up audience. felt correcting misinformation was core part Public new occurrence important fighting online