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Tracking misinformation online; Why COVID long-haulers are still struggling: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet

CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need from the week.

Consumer and health news you need from the week

Imran Ahmed, the founder of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, says social media companies have become the primary superspreaders of misinformation online.
Imran Ahmed, founder of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, says social media companies have become the primary superspreaders of misinformation online. (CBC)

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Marketplace flagged over 800 social media posts with COVID-19 misinformation. Only a fraction were removed

We've all seen misinformation online, but does reporting it actually do anything? 

The world's social media giants promised to crack down on harmful COVID-19 misinformation that has proliferated since the pandemic began, but a Marketplace investigation found that when problematic posts were flagged, most weren't labelled or removed. 

Between Feb. 3 and Feb. 16, Marketplace producers combed through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter and used the user tools to flag and report more than 800 posts that breach each company's policies that cover, among other things, posting misinformation.

The result: about 12 per cent of the posts were labelled with warnings or taken down entirely. That number jumped to 53 per cent only after Marketplace journalists identified themselves and shared the findings directly with the companies. Read more

Despite promises to tackle COVID-19 misinformation from social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, a Marketplace investigation still found plenty online. (CBC)

A year into pandemic, COVID-19 long-haulers still struggle to get care

We've been living with the pandemic for just over a year now, but some COVID-19 long-haulers still feel like they're fighting to be heard.

As provincial and federal governments focus on urgent pandemic priorities — from prevention and vaccination to caring for acutely ill patients in hospitals — people suffering debilitating symptoms in the aftermath of their COVID-19 infections are being left behind when it comes to pandemic-related planning and spending, some experts say. Read more

Back in January, Marketplace questionnaire found that 60 per cent of COVID-19 long-haulers haven't been able to access the care they believe they need to recover.

Before contracting COVID-19 in March 2020, Sonja Mally could hike for 10 hours. Now that she suffers debilitating symptoms as a COVID-19 'long-hauler,' she has spent months training her body to tolerate two-kilometre walks near her home. (Sam Nar/CBC)

Canada's nursing homes have worst record for COVID-19 deaths among wealthy nations: report

Canada has the worst record for COVID-19 deaths in long-term care homes compared with other wealthy countries, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

The study found that the proportion of deaths in nursing homes represented 69 per cent of Canada's overall COVID-19 deaths, which is significantly higher than the international average of 41 per cent. Read more 

Hands of a senior rest on a cane, the hand of a caregiver on top of it.
A new report released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that the proportion of deaths in nursing homes represented 69 per cent of Canada's overall COVID-19 deaths, which is significantly higher than the international average of 41 per cent. (Alexander Raths/Shutterstock)

What else is going on?

'Try not to stop and start' while driving, Honda tells owners stuck with cars not fit for winter
The automaker says it's taken steps to fix heating, but won't say how many times it didn't work.

This is your brain on pandemic: What chronic stress is doing to us
A year of 'daily, unpredictable, malignant stress' can actually affect our brain tissue.

With risk of more infectious coronavirus variants growing, experts call for more caution outdoors
'We really need to do much, much more than last summer,' says Dr. Peter Jüni.

B.C. woman petitions province to cover cost of 'life-changing' migraine medication
Christina Sall says Aimovig is the only drug that helps her, but it costs her more than $500 a month.

This week on Marketplace

Are cheaper eggs just as nutritious as organic or free-run options?

We tested more than 300 eggs from 14 different brands to find out how they stack up.

Plus, KN95 and KF94 masks offer greater protection, but we find some potentially counterfeit and dangerous masks for sale. Find out how to spot a fake.

Watch anytime on CBC Gem.

-Charlsie Agro, Asha Tomlinson, and the Marketplace team

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