Emma Burgess ’21
As our nation and world continue to engage in its treacherous battle against COVID-19, it is easy to try to compare this pandemic to ones of the past. However, this parallel is not obvious, and the answer to why coronavirus is such a unique disease lies in the state of our society itself.
The world has never seen a pandemic of this caliber in combination with the technology that is ubiquitous in our daily lives. Social media has become an essential part of society’s daily routine, so when unessential pieces of the world began to shut down, social media did not follow suit. In fact, since people are now no longer free to be as active in their communities, they are turning to social media more than ever. While social media presence has had both positive and negative impacts throughout the coronavirus pandemic, it is undeniable that it has played a tremendous role in the views and opinions of society during this difficult time.
Many influencers across various social media outlets have been promoting the #StayHome movement, encouraging their followers to obey all social distancing guidelines and to help fight the spread of COVID-19. By spreading a positive and impactful message, these social media users have been inspiring others to rethink their actions and to also post online about the importance of taking safety precautions during this uncertain time. Additionally, social media has worked in a positive way to help people remain connected. Due to the highly infectious state of COVID-19, everyone has had to make sacrifices to help slow the spread of the pandemic. One of these sacrifices is that society is required to be more isolated than ever. This isolation and distancing can be extremely difficult for many people and social media has been a great source of connection for all people during this shutdown. Social media has allowed people to remain in touch and communicative, even if they are not able to meet truly face-to-face.
On the other hand, social media has been the source of misinformation about the virus. During times such as these, it is extremely important that people try to look beyond the negative news they may encounter on social media and try not to believe “popular,” but unreliable, theories and statistics that are being spread online. Instead, people should be inspired to conduct their own research and to look for the most accurate information. Additionally, it is important that we all take some time to focus on the positive news that we can find on social media, such as the stories celebrating brave workers and health care providers and posts that remind us of the power of small acts of kindness.