People are taking to social media to connect with loved ones and share their thoughts and concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. More people are coming out, admitting that they are struggling to cope with the situation.
During these unprecedented times, people are finding their own ways of coping. People are stuck within the four walls of their homes.
Some have enough space to run, jump, exercise, and be healthy within the confines of their homes. Others don’t even have enough space between their beds and their bathrooms.
The fact of the matter is that everyone is now living in a new reality. As soon as the lockdowns are lifted, a completely new set of public behaviors will be seen.
There might not be large gatherings anymore. People will shake hands and hug less. Travel will surely be less too.
Right now, this change of behavior can already be seen on the internet.
People taking to social media to ease anxieties
The true uncertainty of the events that will follow after the coronavirus is triggering the anxiety attacks of many people. In turn, they are turning to social media to keep themselves sane.
Several posts from influencers on Instagram and Facebook share inspiring and motivating photos and artworks. These are designed to lift up people’s moods and morale in their homes.
Even though the social media world is full of inspiring messages and photos, several experts are warning against its overuse. Social media overdose may even cause more anxiety and distress because of exposure to all types of information.
Doomsurfing and fact-checking
While others succumb to the heavy stress-related mental effects of the coronavirus, some thrive on the thrill of absorbing and sharing information.
These people are categorized as the ‘doom surfers.’ Due to their curiosity, they end up resharing all the information that they absorb online.
Unfortunately, doom surfers create more havoc than help in spreading information about the virus. The new term coined for such mindless sharing is ‘infodemic.’ This is defined as the overflow of information about the virus that the real set of news doesn’t end up reaching its intended audience.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers this infodemic a real threat both to mental and physical health. With more people sharing unverified news, the general audience becomes more and more confused.
As a result, the spread of misinformation just creates more confusion and anxiety for everyone. Health experts only want internet users to share verified and factual news.
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