Photo Courtesy: UNBC

By Veronica Beltran

false information

Don’t believe everything you read: UNBC Health Sciences Librarian tackles the spread of false COVID information

Jul 24, 2020 | 11:38 AM

PRINCE GEORGE–Don’t believe everything you read. That is the message from Dr. Trina Fyfe at UNBC.

After a list that traversed social media, spreading false information allegedly relayed from Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Fyfe, the Health Sciences Librarian at UNBC and Northern Medical Program decided to call out the false information.

“This 16-item list contains false and unsubstantiated statements claiming to be those of Dr. Henry, B.C.‘s provincial health officer (PHO). This is a provincial example of a much larger problem occurring worldwide called disinformation.”–Trina Fyfe, PhD,
Health Sciences Librarian, UNBC and Northern Medical Program

Fyfe says she became skeptical of what she was reading after realizing that some of the statements contradicted the recurring messages British Columbians have been hearing from the PHO for the past several months. “In B.C., we have become quite enamored with Dr. Henry and have, for the most part, been following her orders. So, how were we so easily swayed to share this list?” said Fyfe.

Fyfe says that usually disinformation is written in a way that makes it sound like it is coming from an expert. Fact-checking wasn’t just something we practiced in high school or post-secondary but is something that should be added to our daily lives, especially when something doesn’t feel right.

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“Checking the source of information is key to determining the validity and authority of the information provided.” –Trina Fyfe, PhD, Health Sciences Librarian, UNBC and Northern Medical Program

“The list of statements provided information that some of us want to hear. One of the items on the list stated that wearing masks for a long period of time can affect oxygen levels,” said Fyfe. “Researchers and clinical experts have disputed this with evidence. Further to this, evidence is constantly emerging during this pandemic. What might not have been directly recommended early on is now recommended (like wearing masks when you are not able to maintain physical distancing) and is tricky to navigate. This makes me ponder, how do we know what is true and what is disinformation?” she added

Fyfe recommends that when something doesn’t feel right to check it against other sources such as government websites like the BCCDC, the Government of Canada’s webpages on COVID-19 or even going one step further and checking against other experts in the field of infectious diseases. Fyfe encourages people to use their critical thinking skills and ask questions before believing something.

“One final note, be careful not to spread disinformation.”–Trina Fyfe, PhD, Health Sciences Librarian, UNBC and Northern Medical Program

“Spreading disinformation can be harmful to our communities. Without scrutinizing the information we share with our friends and families online, we become part of the problem. If you are unsure if what you are reading is factual or not, try Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy approach. This Centre encourages people to “Check First” and “Share After,” said Fyfe.