6 ways to ensure your message on COVID-19 is relevant

The only thing spreading faster than the coronavirus is “information” about the virus.

Every network and news source devotes endless hours to reporting on virtually all aspects of the coronavirus, including its spread, characteristics, prevention techniques, origin, economic impact and on and on and on. Few among us are now ignorant of the proper handwashing technique, and it’s likely “Happy Birthday” has been sung more in the past few weeks than it had been sung in the past few years.

Every person connected to the internet is reporting on the pandemic, passing along an unfiltered stream of facts and factoids, rumors, anecdotes, chain letters, prayers, inducements and outright falsehoods. Some of us listen selectively and absorb information that confirms our biases, which might not be optimal, but conceivably is better than accepting everything at face value until your head explodes.