WHO is working with Kuaishou Technology, an organization in China that owns social platforms SnackVideo and Kwai, to combat COVID-19 misinformation and supply mental health tips about how you can address effects of the pandemic. Resources can be found in Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese and Spanish to succeed in vulnerable populations within the palms of their hands in languages they understand. 

With over 4 billion users worldwide, social media has revolutionized the best way information is consumed. Leveraging social media in local languages allows WHO to succeed in thousands and thousands of vulnerable individuals with critical health information.

For instance, in August 2021, WHO and SnackVideo launched a social media campaign to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The campaign was centred around boosting mental resilience through community open messaging. Messaging included tips about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 in addition to mental health tricks to support coping with the pandemic and its effects on each day life. Users produced over  24 thousand videos using the hashtag #BersamaHinggaUsai which collectively earned over 30 million views on the platform. 

Later within the yr, Kwai and WHO launched a COVID-19 Fact Centre to assist reduce the spread of health misinformation by debunking common COVID-19 myths. The Fact Centre helps users understand and higher discover potentially harmful falsehoods, connects them with localised resources for vaccine booking, and further learning about local regulations and protective measures. The page has collected over hundred thousand views throughout countries in South America and Indonesia. 

“We’re thrilled to team up with the WHO to bring health information to short video user communities in a fun and interactive way,” said Liu Zhen, Vice President of Kuaishou Technology, the parent company of SnackVideo and Kwai. “This partnership with the WHO may be very special to SnackVideo and Kwai, as each apps offer easy-to-use video and live-streaming experiences for everybody, so that everybody can express their styles, creativity and feel connected. Reaching not only the highest creators on each platforms, now we have also seen interest and increased uptake from general users, with higher than average participation rates across the board. We’re excited in regards to the impact and influence these campaigns could have.”

“We welcome efforts by the social media corporations, equivalent to Kuaishou Technology, to encourage their large online communities to take the needed steps for higher health and well-being,” said Andy Pattison, Team Lead of Digital Channels on the World Health Organization. “We’d like to proceed to succeed in individuals with lifesaving health messages where they’re, within the palms of their hands, and in languages that they understand.”

This collaboration is a component of WHO’s broader initiative to work with technology corporations to fight misinformation and ensure people all over the place have access to accurate health information and resources on COVID-19.