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Deprecated: Implicit conversion from float 233.6 to int loses precision in C:\Inetpub\vhosts\kidney.de\httpdocs\pget.php on line 534 J+Med+Internet+Res 2021 ; 23 (5): e26933 Nephropedia Template TP
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Bots and Misinformation Spread on Social Media: Implications for COVID-19 #MMPMID33882014
Himelein-Wachowiak M; Giorgi S; Devoto A; Rahman M; Ungar L; Schwartz HA; Epstein DH; Leggio L; Curtis B
J Med Internet Res 2021[May]; 23 (5): e26933 PMID33882014show ga
As of March 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been responsible for over 115 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, resulting in over 2.5 million deaths. As the virus spread exponentially, so did its media coverage, resulting in a proliferation of conflicting information on social media platforms-a so-called "infodemic." In this viewpoint, we survey past literature investigating the role of automated accounts, or "bots," in spreading such misinformation, drawing connections to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also review strategies used by bots to spread (mis)information and examine the potential origins of bots. We conclude by conducting and presenting a secondary analysis of data sets of known bots in which we find that up to 66% of bots are discussing COVID-19. The proliferation of COVID-19 (mis)information by bots, coupled with human susceptibility to believing and sharing misinformation, may well impact the course of the pandemic.