Kemi Badenoch highlights the dangers of misinformation in family WhatsApp groups during the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
London: Kemi Badenoch recently shared some eye-opening thoughts during the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. She pointed out that family WhatsApp groups are actually spreading more false claims about Covid than social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
As a former minister, she was asked about her role in addressing vaccine uptake among ethnic minorities. Badenoch mentioned that she was more concerned about the misinformation circulating in private chats than on public platforms.
She emphasized that the government’s best move is to provide clear information and foster a sense of unity. It’s all about making sure everyone feels included in the conversation.
Badenoch noted that the misinformation ranged from wild claims about vaccines to conspiracy theories about government cover-ups. She acknowledged that even credible sources, like the British Medical Association, were sometimes misused to back up these false claims.
While she wasn’t sure how to tackle misinformation in private groups, she reiterated the importance of transparency and communication. She even participated in vaccine trials herself to help build public trust.
Interestingly, she didn’t want to attack those spreading misinformation, as that could make things worse. Instead, she focused on raising awareness and encouraging community efforts to boost vaccine uptake among ethnic minorities.
Ministers took various steps, like using places of worship as vaccination sites and launching campaigns on the BBC Asian Network, to help increase the number of people getting vaccinated.
When asked if these efforts made a difference, Badenoch confidently said yes. She believes that raising awareness was key and that it inspired others to take action, rather than relying solely on the government.
