Open AccessThe COVID-19 and Ageism in Social Media
Author(s) -
Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
coronaviruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2666-7975
pISSN - 2666-7967
DOI - 10.2174/2666796701999200621203144
Subject(s) - covid-19 , pandemic , social media , anxiety , coronavirus , public health , disease , psychology , gerontology , medicine , virology , political science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , psychiatry , nursing , outbreak , law
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognized as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.However, the median age of laboratory-confirmed cases is about 45 years and age is not a sole potentialrisk for catching COVID-19; unfortunately, some social media pretend that elderly people are morelikely to be infected by COVID-19. Providing such information about the COVID-19 can increase thestress and anxiety among the elderly that may weaken their immune system. It is suggested that socialmedia provide appropriate information to reduce public stress.