When it comes to fake news and public health, there’s a lot to be concerned about, says Dr. Brittany Seymour, a specialist in digital public health communication at Harvard University. She points out that, every day, an estimated 700,000 pieces of content on Facebook and 500 million tweets are shared, and a new blog is created every half second.  

     "The Internet has changed the way we listen to music, get our news, even find love,” says Dr. Seymour. “Information—and misinformation—can get to more people faster today than ever before.”

     Dr. Seymour will be speaking at the Ontario Public Health Association’s (OPHA) 2017 Fall Forum on Wednesday, November 9^th in Toronto. 

     According to Dr. Seymour, based on misinformation online, the personal belief exemption rates for recommended childhood vaccinations in California doubled between 2007 and 2013. In 2014, the U.S. experienced the largest measles outbreak in nearly a generation. During the Ebola epidemic, she adds, fear-based rather than fact-based media narratives led to forced quarantines and travel bans that actually impeded, rather than helped, with relief efforts.
 
     “With so much fake news, public health organizations have a role to play in ensuring evidenced-based health information reaches Ontarians,” says Pegeen Walsh, executive director of OPHA.

      Harvard’s Dr. Seymour will be speaking alongside many presenters, including professionals from various sectors on topics like the impact of changing technological, political views and values, demographics on public health, health literacy and new models for engaging the public.

      For more information about OPHA’s 2017 Forum, click here. For media passes or inquiries, contact Mary Wales (mwales@opha.on.ca, 416-367-9914).