Health information, specifically on social media, is often published, shared, and re-shared, irrespective of its veracity, frequently leading to the spread of misinformation and rumours under the guise of truth.
On average, in 2019, Indian internet users spent close to 2.5 hours on social media everyday. Average usage went up to 4.3 hours during the first phase of the 2020 nationwide lockdown, later stabilising to 3.3 hours by the end of June 2020. For many Indians, who were isolated and confined to their homes, social media outlets such as WhatsApp and Facebook enabled convenient and seamless access and dissemination of health information, including information related to curbs and restrictions.