Researchers from Kong's Research Group and ACADIC say they were surprised to find social media use was related to a higher spread rate of COVID-19 early on. “This highlights the need to consider the dynamic role that social media plays in epidemics", says the Director of ACADIC and Kong's Research Group  , Jude Kong.

Media Coverage of the research findings

• CTV - https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/misinformation-on-social-media-linked-to-higher-spread-of-covid-19-in-new-study-1.5466846
•  The Register: https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/11/pandemic_drinking_and_swearing_outbreak/
•  CTV radio
• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/yu-smu060921.php
•  https://phys.org/news/2021-06-social-media-factors-higher-covid-.html
• yfile: https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2021/06/09/social-media-use-one-of-four-factors-related-to-higher-covid-19-spread-rates-early-on/?utm_source=YFile_Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Top-Stories&utm_campaign=yfile