This report by the Royal Society seeks to understand how the internet shapes people’s engagement with scientific information. Information about Covid-19 is spread rapidly online, which can be great to inform people of current news surrounding the virus- however this report highlights the dangers that come alongside this. This includes the spread of misinformation surrounding Covid-19 that arises from the competition for attention online and the damage this can do. The misinformation includes topics such as vaccine safety, climate change, and the rollout of 5G technology.
A wide range of recommendations are included in this report to ensure online safety regarding misinformation. This includes governments and social media platforms not relying on content removal as a solution to online scientific misinformation and Ofcom considering interventions for countering misinformation beyond high-risk, high-reach social media platforms.