Description of Work

Gone Viral - 2021 - Digital - Not for Sale

Artist's Statement

As social media evolves, it’s manifested itself into almost every aspect of  our lives. Statistics show that those between the ages of 16 to 24 spend  approximately 3 hours on social media daily, while internet users of all  ages average at approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes a day. And while  it’s true that social media has many benefits, one downside is the spread of  health and “wellness” misinformation. Users now often take to the internet  to search for health information, and according to the National Cancer  Institute, 7.5 million American adults venture online to acquire peer support  about health issues. 

Social media can be a great tool for those who struggle to find affordable  healthcare and for those who seek out emotional support for various  medical diagnoses. Therefore, the onus should be on us, co-creators,  disseminators and users, to make sure the information we share to others  is verified and fact-based. The problem, however, is that many users are  not equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to discern fact from  fiction, and instead share posts out of fear. 

Gone Viral, an online resource provided to equip social media users  with the knowledge they need to not only detect misinformation, but to  also stop its spread. The website includes data and statistics on both  social media and health topics, interviews with medical and computer  science professionals regarding best practices and the role of algorithms  in detecting misinformation, in addition to specific guidelines that unpack  everything from how to successfully correct misinformation when you see  it to fact-checking viral health claims. The Gone Viral Instagram page is  dedicated to sharing this information in post format so that it can be shared  across social media accounts, successfully combating misinformation  at the root of the source. As a designer, I am positioned to help mitigate  the fear surrounding these health topics in order to create a more open,  transparent dialogue.

If you wish to purchase any of these pieces, please contact the gallery director, Jacqueline Nathan (jnathan@bgsu.edu.)