Tell Twitter to put truth and science above profit
Dear friend,
Did you know that Twitter has stated it's working to remove COVID-19 disinformation from its platform ? We sure couldn't tell.
Lies about the pandemic and the vaccine are always on our feeds. Twitter doesn't even have a method for users to report tweets or accounts that spread lies about the pandemic or the vaccine--and why would it ? Anti-vaxxers on Twitter earn about $7.6 million in annual revenue, and disinformation brings in millions more for social media platforms.1,2,3
According to Twitter's guidelines and policies, "content that is demonstrably false or misleading and may lead to significant risk of harm...may not be shared on Twitter." But there is no way to report misinformation or lies about COVID-19 on the platform.4
That's why we're demanding that Twitter make a button to report misleading COVID-19 tweets and disinformation NOW !
Tell Twitter : Make a button for users to report COVID-19 disinformation !
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COVID-19 disinformation reverberates in far-right echo chambers targeting women, girls, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and is literally killing its readers and retweeters.5,6 With outbreaks of the Delta Variant popping up across the US, stopping the spread through vaccinations is critical.7
But Twitter can easily address this by empowering users to report COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation. By having the means to report COVID-specific disinformation and lies, users will be able to work in collaboration with Twitter content moderators to curb the dangerous "infodemic" that is thriving on Twitter.8
We know this is an achievable demand, but we need your help to make it successful. We've had success in the past of getting platforms to change, and to put users and people ahead of profit. That's why we're reaching out to you, friend.
Thanks for fighting against disinformation with us !
Shaunna, Kathy, Melody, Lindsay, Sonja, Kimberly, Maria, Elisa, KaeLyn, KD, Iris, Bridget, Katie, Jaya, Meena, Luna, and Isatou, the UltraViolet team.
Sources :
1. Social media firms put 'profit above principle' on fake news, Singapore minister says, Reuters UK, January 12, 2021.
2. Factually: How misinformation makes money, American Press Institute, September 26, 2019.
3. Pandemic Profiteers: The business of anti-vaxx, Center for Countering Digital Hate, June 1, 2021.
4. COVID-19 misleading information policy, Twitter, 2021.
5. COVID Misinformation Is Killing People, Scientific American, October 11, 2020.
6. Disinformation Dozen: The Sequel, Center for Countering Digital Hate, April 28, 2021.
7. Delta variant's trajectory in UK and Israel provides hope for US -- if we can keep vaccinating, CNN, July 12, 2021.
8. COVID Misinformation Is Killing People, Scientific American, October 11, 2020.
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