Some medical researchers think Covid-19 health challenges are the result of  Meta misinformation.

Medical Professionals Say Lack of Oversight for Covid-19 Information Causes Mental Health Issues

Unless you have been under a rock for the last year, you have probably heard that CEO Mark Zuckerberg took Facebook and turned it into Meta. While it functions much as it did before the transformation, there are changes being called for by 500 medical professionals. Jody Serrano wrote on gizmodo.com that Meta shareholders feel public pressure to respond due to Covid-19 misinformation that has proliferated on Facebook.

“In our exam rooms and our hospitals, we’ve seen the detrimental impact that the mis- and disinformation circulated like wildfire across Meta’s platforms has had on individuals and communities alike,” the providers’ letter read.

The group published an open letter addressed to Meta shareholders in support of Proposal 14, an item on the meeting’s agenda that would have mandated an independent assessment of the performance of Meta’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee. The committee assists the company’s board with risk management related to public safety and the public interest. Proposal 14 was overwhelmingly rejected by Meta’s shareholders, though, receiving 11% of votes in favor and 89% against.

Medical professionals who signed the letter cited Covid-19 misinformation and content that negatively affects children and teenagers’ mental health. The open letter was organized by the Committee to Protect Health Care.

“Meta has a responsibility to address its role in public safety and hold Mr. Zuckerberg accountable because disinformation and misinformation spread fastest on Facebook, compared with all other social media platforms,” the doctors said.

We all watched the information scroll past us for the past two years of this pandemic, and it’s true that it is nearly impossible to discern what is factual and what is contributed to misinformation.

For their part, Meta’s board of directors responded by saying the company was “committed” to keeping people safe and preventing harm. The board also said that employees can already confidentially submit concerns to the committee on matters related to accounting, auditing, and other risks.

“Our board of directors believes that the preparation of the report contemplated by this proposal is unnecessary and not beneficial to our shareholders,” the board wrote in its response.

read more at gizmodo.com