Scientific dissemination to combat fake news about COVID-19

an extension project of the Federal Institute of Bahia

Abstract

The work presents an experience of scientific dissemination to mitigate the consequen-ces of posting fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. From June to August 2020, we evaluated the profile of an Education Instagram account from the digital content of the thirty news and digital content on the new coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2). Based on the descriptive method, we wrote the paper for the special edition of the electronic journal Science and Knowledge in Focus. We organize the results in five statistical graphs, a table, and a chart based on the data exposure in simple and relative frequencies. The COVID-19 pandemic lasted for a period that the Brazilian population did not expect. Amid this scenario of fear and fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), other actions have emerged to support Brazilian society and the academic community. For example, the Checker News project of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Bahia. The participants and the project team reflected on the rapprochement between science and the Brazilian population in pandemic time. In addition to residents of five states showed interest in the reliable digital content on the prevention and treatment of the disease. Therefore, scientific dissemination is essential to combat fake news in the virtual world.