Is that real? Please be cautious before you click share on that COVID19 post

As this pandemic continues to get worse each day, I have this cluster of emotions and feelings that seem so incredibly familiar. In the last month, I've felt this random daily cycle of fear, adrenaline-fueled excitement, annoyance, anger, extreme frustration, exhaustion, and sadness. Why? Because of the onslaught of news that continues to poor in with daily updates on the Coronavirus.

This cluster of feelings reminds me of a time when I was a reporter for Vox Magazine and very very very minorly for the Columbia Missourian during the protest and weeks worth of events that occurred late in 2015. I felt all of these feelings in a completely random cycle. It was an incredible rush, getting to see other state and local as well as national news report what was happening on our campus. It was also exhausting to see national news outlets get information wrong and people online spread false information about what was happening on campus.

One example that comes to mind from that week, was the night where the KKK was rumored to be going around Mizzou's campus.

The reason I bring up this experience is that I'm seeing a very similar trend occur on social media and news now that also happened then. That trend is spreading false information with or without knowing it.

It goes without saying that America, has been down this path before. With barely mentioning the year 2016 in America, most people would know what I mean, unless you were living off the grid away from all forms of news and social media.

I know the news right now is daunting, and there are so many of you who do NOT want to hear any more information about the virus. It's important to take time away from the news, especially national 24/7 television news, to process and not think about the virus. It's just as important for everyone to stay informed about how dangerous and contagious it is as well. I'm no expert in the healthcare realm but from my experience as a journalist and science communicator, I implore you to do this at the very least:

1.) Listen to your local healthcare officials. Tune into what your state's county is reporting and advising daily. At this point, health departments and hospitals across the country are really stepping up and speaking up to their counties or cities that they oversee. Listen to them first and keep yourself updated on what they advise to do.

2.) While you're at it, figure out what local news outlets are reporting regularly at state, city and county level press briefings. Since I live in the State of Illinois and follow quite a few Springfield, Chicago, St. Louis Metro East and St. Louis-based news, I get notifications like crazy about press briefings by the governor and county officials in Madison and St. Clair counties.

Admittedly, I am a bit biased against television news versus print news, but when it comes to the importance of reporting on this virus, together they do a phenomenal job.

My advice is to change up how you consume your news. If you're in the St. Louis Metro East like me, then read articles by The St. Louis Post Dispatch as well as the Belleville News-Democrat and Edwardsville Intelligencer. Also, be sure to read and tune into what St. Louis Public Radio or KSDK News Channel 5 or one of the several other broadcast news stations, has to say about the virus.

In a nutshell, localize your view of the virus as much as you can.

For me, local news consumption over national news consumption has minimized the fear I carry about the virus. I've also found you get a much healthier balance of positive stories and heavy statistics on local COVID19 cases.

I might not be a reporter anymore, but staying informed now, as I did back then, has made me feel vigilant. I'm glad my background allows me to more easily spot or question what could be fabricated information used to strike fear or confirm bias in those who seek it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or another social platform.

By no means am I perfect, and I will admit I've fallen victim to false information during this pandemic too. But I'm grateful I have friends who have kept me in check.

3.) Be aware of your confirmation bias when sharing news. This is a really important piece of advice because I've fallen into this trap too. You might be tired of hearing about doom, gloom and death. A lot of us are and that's ok, but be aware of happy stories that could be fabricated for the sake of clickbait.

One big example that comes to mind involves a twitter post which lead to hundreds of articles claiming that animals like Dolphins, swans, and fish "returned" to the canals in Venice. National Geographic did a fantastic job of addressing the pictures of the animals in the canals as well as tracking down the person who posted the pictures on twitter in the first place.

In a similar way, think about that shark swimming down a city street picture that seems to get posted on social media every time a major hurricane or flood hits a coastal city. The purpose of that picture might be to inspire awe or fear through clickbait, but again, it's posted for almost the same reason as the picture above: likes, attention, and sharing.

4.) As we enter each new day during this scary time, my final piece of advice is to listen to your friends on the frontlines. Yes, I already said listen to your local healthcare workers, but listen to those you know too. Chances are you know at least one doctor, nurse, pharmaceutical worker, or someone else working in healthcare. Talk to them, and not just one of them. Talk to as many as you can handle talking to: Doctors, nurses, journalists, healthcare workers, health department officials, and other individuals either creating equipment for hospital settings or working in hospital settings.

Give them the utmost amount of respect and listen to what they're saying. Chances are they are all saying the exact same thing: Unless you are sick, need food, or absolutely have to go to work in an essential work environment, PLEASE STAY HOME!

It sucks economically, physically, and emotionally to stay home right now. I hate to see so many of my friends being let go from their jobs over the last week alone. The same goes for businesses closing indefinitely. There's no question all of us are being affected in some sort of way by this virus, which is why I ask you all to do one more thing:

Support your local community if you can, and as much as you can. If you are able, give a tip to your local restaurant doing take out to stay open, tip your delivery drivers even though they might drop things off at the door, or shop online or call into your favorite local boutique, schedule your next hair/nail/spa appointment for months from.

We will all get through these tough times together, by staying physically apart. We might not see the end of this pandemic in our country yet, but we will get through this, America.