User:Yasseenhanafy/sandbox

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health
The pandemic has had a negative impact on mental health due to quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing and other safety measures. Furthermore, there are recognized risk factors for numerous mental disorders such as schizophrenia and major depression due to the rise in loneliness and the reduction of social interactions. In addition, anxiety, fear, and depression have been aggravated as a result of the concern about personal and loved one’s health and the constant questioning of what might happen next. In a study of 1210 cases from 194 cities in China during the months of January and February of 2020, the psychological impact of the Covid-19 outbreak was ranked moderate or severe by 54% of the respondents. Furthermore, the symptoms of anxiety were rated moderate to severe by 29% while symptoms of severe depression were rated moderate to severe by 17% of the respondents.

Misinformation
Misinformation of all kinds has been originating and spreading on social media platforms and websites as Covid-19 develops into a complete public health crisis. A common theme amongst many theories going around on the internet is that the virus is part of an agenda and planned by a rogue government and invented in a lab. While these claims have no evidence to support them, posts regarding this misinformation on social media have gathered over 20 million actions with an increase every day. While scientists from all around the world confirming that the virus originated from sources of nature, conspiracy theories remain a problem on the internet as their engagements are quickly growing.

Furthermore, uncredited sources have been fabricating essential information regarding the transmission and exposure of the virus. For example, there are multiple myths gaining awareness on social media that there are measures people can take at home that can cure or prevent exposure to the virus. Some of these home remedies, while completely based on a lack of evidence, can be harmful and others can be potentially dangerous; specifically mixing sodium chlorite solution with critic acid which has been seriously advised against by the American Food and Drug Administration.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding Covid-19 have been removed by Facebook and Instagram from their social media platforms. Facebook has placed its focus on discouraging claims that include fake cures and methods of prevention. Facebook’s third-party fact-checkers work to limit the spread of false content by sending links to fact-checked information to the accounts who were attempting or who already shared the content in order to notify them and provide correct information. In the cases of posts such as “drinking bleach cures coronavirus”, Facebook will have the information removed as well as have the hashtags associated to the misinformation blocked or restricted on Instagram and Facebook. Endorsements and up-to-date information will be available through posts on the top of Facebook’s News Feed for guidance that is presented by the World Health Organization. An educational pop-up with credible information will appear when using the search function on Facebook, or through a related hashtag on Instagram that is based on data from global health organizations and local health authorities.

The Digital Transformation Caused by Covid-19
Covid-19 has forced the widespread, unexpected and quick digital transformation in the world. In many fields, such as education, there has been an increase in digitization that required schools and teachers to react quickly to the transformation. A new set of skills had to be developed in order to keep track with the sudden technological changes, thereby placing a burden on students, teachers and families who unexpectedly had to come up with resources and competencies in order to maintain work levels.

While multiple implications regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 have not been clearly explained, nations all around the world are still dealing with Covid-19. Knowledge of the virus itself is still somewhat limited, however, life has become easier thanks to digital technologies that allowed some businesses to keep running at a given capacity during the pandemic. From December 2019 to May 2020, there has been a 60% increase in internet traffic specifically a 120% increase in videoconference traffic compared to before the outbreak.