Headline RoundupMay 9th, 2020

Viral 'Plandemic' Video Prompts Social Media Frenzy

Summary from the AllSides News Team

A viral video promoting an alternative theory to the coronavirus pandemic triggered a wave of controversy on social media this week, underscoring the way conflicting information and misinformation can spread during a crisis. The video, posted to YouTube and titled "Plandemic: Part I", features a former National Cancer Institute researcher suggesting that the coronavirus was a "planned" conspiracy and positing a number of false or misleading claims. The video received millions of views before YouTube removed it for violating its policy against "COVID-19 misinformation." Outlets across the aisle covered the video and reactions to it, with many publications seeking to counter the interviewee's dubious narrative with fact checks and analysis. Those on the left were more likely to call the video's contents false outright, while those on the right focused more on its removal from YouTube and other platforms. Editorial note: AllSides is not doing an independent analysis of the claims in the documentary or of the coverage of it, and notes that any false or misleading claims within the documentary do not mean everything in the documentary was false. In the current online environment filled with bias, hidden agendas and misinformation, we recommend a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thought. Updated 5/11/2020 at 4:59 p.m. ET

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