Reich: Pox Views and the pandemic

Continuing this post, Robert Reich discusses 3 studies showing Pox Views likely increased the severity of the pandemic. His FB post follows commenting on the studies.

"Three new studies suggest that Fox News’ coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, riddled with outright lies and dangerous misinformation, may have increased the severity of the pandemic:

— One of the studies found that respondents who relied on conservative news sources were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories about the virus, including that it was a creation of the Chinese government and that its severity was being exaggerated “to damage the Trump presidency."

— Another found that a 10 percent increase in Fox News viewership within a Zip code reduced its residents’ likelihood of staying home in compliance with public health guidelines

— The third study found that viewers of Sean Hannity (who repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus until early March) changed pandemic-related behaviors, like hand washing and canceling travel plans, four days later than other Fox News viewers

It’s important to note that none of these studies imply causation, and that two out of the three are working papers — meaning they haven’t gone through the peer-review process yet. But initial reviews of the studies from other academics indicate their methodology and findings hold water. Fox News’ lies and propaganda are dangerous in normal times; in the middle of an unprecedented public health emergency, they’re downright deadly."