With older generations said to be at greater risk of coronavirus, a charity has also warned it's also vital to keep them safe from misinformation online too.
Fake news about COVID-19 is being widely shared on social media and messaging services like Whatsapp, which can make us more stressed and susceptible to the bad advice we see.
While some are pretty harmless - like the story of a giant lasagne being baked in Wembley stadium using the underfloor heating - other fake news has proved to be fatal.
A man died and his wife was left fighting for her life after the pair took fish tank cleaner in an attempt to self-medicate for coronavirus.
Misinformation being spread on Whatsapp has included messages advising people to stay indoors as army helicopters would be flying over the country spraying pesticides to kill the virus, encouraging others to tell their family and friends - which many did.
One person tweeted 'I’m not even joking now, something seriously has to be done about Whatsapp' after they were forwarded the message from their mum, along with another message about ingesting hot drinks to kill it off.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the unprecedented level of misleading information online as an 'infodemic'.
Now, anti-misinformation charity The Student View has issued guideline aimed at ensuring everyone does their part in keeping both themselves and older relatives safe. It advises:
Don't fall for fake news yourself
We trust posts from our friends and family, but it’s crucial that you don’t share fake news stories with them. To make sure you don’t, only pass on information you can verify with a trustworthy source, like a reputable newspaper or the NHS coronavirus website.
Can’t verify, can’t share
Here’s a simple rule: if you can’t verify a post you've seen, don’t share it. Not being able to verify that a message is real should be a red flag, one that stops you or other family members sending it to anyone else.
Just because something looks helpful, doesn’t mean it is
Simply because messages begin 'Important information about coronavirus: PLEASE SHARE', it doesn't mean it's correct. Sharing false information could put others in danger.
Encourage others to verify stories themselves
It can be a simple process to fact check fake information using the internet search bar on our phone or computer.
For example, one piece of false information linked coronavirus to 5G WiFi networks - the first result after searching 'Coronavirus 5G' on Google is a reliable website debunking the claim.
Ask older relatives to send you posts before they share them
The charity described young people as 'digital natives' who can act as a sounding board for those who are less sure what they can and cannot rely on.
Doing your own background checks can stop false information being passed on.
Fake news isn’t only being spread by normal people
The Student View says hate groups could be deliberately spreading fake news to exploit the panic created by coronavirus. Cutting off the spread of such information can help everyone feel less stressed.
Just because it says it’s from someone important, it doesn’t mean it actually is
Some messages claim to be from 'someone really high up in the Ministry of Defence'. Ask your family if they know the original author of the message, not just their friend who forwarded it onto them. If they don’t, they shouldn’t share it, no matter how helpful it looks.
Help spread reliable sources instead
Encourage your loved ones to share fact-checking websites like FullFact, so more people can find out for themselves.
Solomon Elliott, CEO The Student View charity, said: “It’s critical that we stop spreading coronavirus fake news. We’ve seen dozens of posts that could put people’s health at risk. Not only does it strain the NHS more, sharing unreliable information makes us all more anxious than we need to be.
"There is a tsunami of misinformation out there, with older people being particularly vulnerable to severe illness from coronavirus, we can do our bit by making sure they get the right information from trustworthy sources."
