Human civilization probably is passing through the most critical juncture of the millennium. At the same time, its existence is being challenged by the emergence of coronavirus (Covid-19) encroaching newer territories all over the world expeditiously.
Currently, a wide fragment of the world’s population is primarily restricted to their homes, owing to nationwide lockdowns and home-confinement strategies implemented in the majority of the Covid-19-hit countries after China to prevent further disease transmission.
This unpredictable, fast-spreading infectious disease has been causing universal awareness, anxiety, and distress, all of which, according to WHO (World Health Organization), are natural psychological responses to the randomly changing condition.
Moreover, the modern world in which all individuals can rapidly travel and communicate has been forced to the current social isolation and restrictions, which are linked to feelings of frustration and uncertainty. This unprecedented situation related to the Covid-19 outbreak is demonstrating that individuals are largely emotionally unprepared for the detrimental effects of biological disasters that are directly showing how everyone may be frail and helpless.
Feelings of uncertainty
Additionally, social isolation related to restrictions and lockdown measures are linked to feelings of uncertainty for the future, and fear of new and unknown infective agents resulting in abnormally increased anxiety. Furthermore, additional tragic implications associated with pervasive anxiety in a pandemic period may include the perceived lower social support, separation from loved ones, loss of freedom, uncertainty, and boredom.
On top of it, social isolation can lead to pervasive loneliness and boredom, which can have possible dramatic effects on both physical and mental individual well-being. Various studies across the world have shown that social isolation and loneliness can have a severe health risk too.
Thus, how do we tackle these issues? One of the ways to combat these issues is to stay connected, maybe, even by being hyper-connected. The role of mobile technology and social media platforms in these trying times has never been more pivotal. These platforms are serving as connectivity tools and comfort tools by bridging the physical and communication gaps between individuals and their families, friends, and colleagues.
Social platforms around the world have stepped up to the challenge by taking measures to ensure quality is maintained in the face of the increasing demand for these services and apps during the pandemic. Numerous social media and messaging platforms have taken several initiatives to keep people connected during this crisis.
For example, Viber has recently boosted the number of participants in group audio from 5 to 20 people at a time and has launched a new feature -- video group calls up to 20 people, fighting the isolation and loneliness.
Several of these platforms are trying to enhance features to accommodate students, teachers, co-workers, partners, friends, and families to stay in constant contact with each other every single day, and to help people defeat the negative psychological impact.
Furthermore, social media and messaging platforms are taking initiatives to entertain and celebrate festivities online; thus, to further make people feel connected even while staying apart. Not only that, these platforms are also working with governments and other organizations like WHO to tackle misinformation and fake news.
Within days of the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in China, the “social media” panic characterized by a relentless plethora of false information as well as negatively skewed misinformation spread faster than the coronavirus itself. The director-general of WHO has referred to a “coronavirus infodemic,” which is breeding fright and panic by laying out unchecked mind-boggling rumours, propaganda, and sensationalism.
As soon as Covid-19 emerged to become a trending online content, many bloggers, groups, or personal users of social platforms started the business of making a profit off Covid-19’s popularity in many impulsive and unpredictable courses of action. This created confusion and panic, which ultimately led to many overwhelming mental burdens in the form of anxiety, phobia, panic spells, depression, obsession, irritability, delusions of having symptoms similar to Covid-19, and other paranoid ideas.
Fight the spread of misinformation
Thus, several social media and messaging apps have been collaborating with the governments and other organizations like WHO to combat the spread of misinformation and fake news. Moreover, various social platforms are also bringing the corona test system or corona tracker to aid both the government and the citizens of the world.
For example, Viber has recently collaborated with the Bangladesh government to bring the corona risk test system, which can help people to assess the level of risk of Covid-19 of individuals.
No platform is perfect. But where there has been misinformation and fear on social platforms, there has also been an abundance of vital, lifesaving information, connection with others, and global unity. The ability to share experiences with family and friends helps us to combat both literal and emotional isolation while also reminding us that we are all in this together.
While nothing can truly replace the in-person hugs, hellos, high-fives, and happy moments, social platforms and messaging apps are helping people to stay in touch with their loved ones while staying apart. These platforms are taking numerous initiatives to combat both psychological and economic issues.
Anna Znamenskaya is the Chief Growth Offcer at Rakuten Viber.