People are Spreading More Than Just a Virus

Stay Virtually Connected During Social Distancing

People around the globe have been advised to stay at home, in order to prevent the spread of the virus, and has led many to spend their free time on social media. With every scroll, individuals are seen updating their status throughout the day with the hashtag #coronavirus.

Celebrities, Influencers and famous brands' have joined in as well, and somehow seem to be watched carefully now more than ever.

As well-known figures, they are feeling the pressure to post content that is relevant to what is trending at the moment. Multiple influencers have made the mistake to post advice and information that is misleading and insensitive.

Kelvin Pena, also known as Brother Nature, tweeted misinformation about how to prevent the coronavirus. He is well known, and definitely captured the attention of all his 2.4 million followers.

He made a tweet that claimed that the Coronavirus can be cured by drinking warm water. His reasoning behind his claim was the water would transport the virus down to your stomach, where it would be killed by gastric acid.

Immediately, Twitter users began to debunk the preventive measures he had tweeted out.

Even if Brother Nature meant to educate his followers and spread awareness, he must be careful. Pena, like many other influencers, has a big platform and should be cautious of the false information that circulates the internet.

Instead of offering medical advice or ignoring the seriousness of the pandemic, they should encourage the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other disease experts’ guidelines.

People are approaching social media as an outlet for entertainment during the quarantine. It is time for individuals to be there for one another during this time of hysteria.

Here are four things we can share with one another:

1. Support

Everyone has been impacted by the epidemic somehow, whether it be directly or indirectly, the lives of many have changed all of a sudden. Take the time to call or message a friend or a loved one and check on them. Provide them words of comfort and clarify any doubts or worries they might have.

2. Positivity

The news that is being displayed on TV, social media or radio can be overwhelming to some. Let’s spread positivity to one another because there is good news to be happy about, despite the crisis the world is being confronted with.

3. Appreciation

Although many are experiencing fear, replace those negative thoughts and recognize the good in life. Appreciate the people you have met, the friends you have made and the family that loves you. Despite the circumstances, there is something to be grateful for every day.

4. Inspiration

Boredom has struck plenty of individuals, share activities that one is able to do at home. Through live streams or stories, social media users are showing baking recipes, at-home workouts, makeup tutorials and much more. Inspire others to get creative and explore new hobbies that can serve as a distraction from the buildup of stress.

The status of the health crisis is changing every day and everyone must do their part. Stay informed and don’t spread medical advice if you don’t have facts to back it up. Inspire positivity, not fear, because we are all searching for peace among the chaos we are surrounded with.

Please stay home and make safe choices.