How the Social Platforms are responding COVID-19
Nick Whiting • March 21, 2020
As the unpredicted global event COVID-19 continues to take impact, see how the Social Media Platforms are stepping up and responding to the event.
FACEBOOK
Facebook Adds New COVID-19 Information Panel to the Top of All User News Feeds.
As it seeks to play its part in keeping people informed about the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook has announced that it's rolling out a new COVID-19 Information Center panel, which will be featured at the top of all user News Feeds for the foreseeable future.
As you can see here, the new information panel will feature the latest official news and updates on the outbreak, as well as links to helpful articles, videos and posts about social distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Facebook has also expanded their ban on Ads Seeking to capitalize on COVID-19 Fears.
After announcing a ban on ads which seek to capitalize on concerns around COVID-19 late last month, then expanding that to specifically outlaw all ads and commerce listings of face masks amid massive profiteering pushes, Facebook will now extend its COVID-19 ad restrictions even further, incorporating all listings of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and test kits.
Definitely, this is a significant concern - when Facebook announced its ban on face mask listings, I found several examples on Facebook Marketplace of people jacking up the price of masks by some 500%.
Worth noting, too, that eBay has also banned ads for face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes after seeing "unfair pricing behavior" across its listings.
SNAPCHAT
Snapchat Launches New 'Here For You' Mental Health Resource Ahead of Time in Response to COVID-19
Snapchat has announced that it will bring forward the launch of its new 'Here For You' mental health resource center, making it available to all users this week in response to rising angst around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announced last month, 'Here For You' will provide in-app support to Snapchatters who may be experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, with links to relevant resources and exercises to help people cope with such concerns.
WHATSAPP
WhatsApp Launches New COVID-19 Info Hub Amid Concerns Around Misinformation Being Shared In-App
Amid concerns that WhatApp is being used to spread misinformation around the COVID-19 outbreak, the Facebook-owned messaging giant has launched a new COVID-19 info hub, where users will be able to access timely, accurate information related to the pandemic.
The new info hub, which you can access here, includes tips on working remote, how to find reliable information and how to stop the spread of misinformation, along with specialized insights into how local businesses, health care workers, governments and educators can use WhatsApp to stay connected, and maintain regular activity through the app.
In a time of great uncertainty, it's good to see each social platform stepping up to help better inform and assist their users, and ensure that people are getting access to accurate, helpful resources amid the outbreak.
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