SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION AND INFORMATION DISORDER IN PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES

Abstract

The sheer indispensability of information dissemination in public health emergencies cannot be overemphasized.While traditional media such as Newspapers, Radio, Television, Postal Mails, is still in use for this purpose, socialmedia platforms have proved effective in providing 24/7 accessibility and availability of information to combatissues on Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). However, despite the importance of social media during publichealth crisis, the challenge of regulating false and misleading content during such period presents a globalchallenge. This paper adopts the Doctrinal research method. It examines the role of Social Media in Public healthcrisis, and the existing international and regional legal framework protecting freedom of expression. The Paperexposes various attempts or suitable means to regulate social media during public health crisis and recommendsthe adoption of a multi- stakeholder, inter-dependent approach to effectively tackle the challenge ofdisinformation.