Facebook has created a Coronavirus Community Hub for messenger to guide users on how they can stay connected during the lockdown due to the pandemic. It also highlights information for parents as well as businesses and health organizations.
Messenger and WhatsApp both have become platforms where there has been an overflow of fake news and hoax amid COVID-19. Facebook has been taking measures to remove false information in its main app as well as on its messaging apps. And with government groups demanding Facebook to take action against misinformation, the need for the platform to detect and remove false Informational has grown.
As described by Facebook:
"Our communities give us the strength we need to get through challenges, and maintaining those bonds has become even more important today. The new resource hub offers tips for staying connected to your family, friends, faith community, classmates and coworkers as we practice physical distancing."
Facebook also noted:
"We take your safety seriously and continue to take aggressive steps to remove fake accounts and catch scammers before they reach you. We’ve already heard of attempts to run treatment or fundraising scams online, and our new hub offers additional tips and resources to help people avoid online scams."
Giving users awareness about COVID-19 can help slow the spread of the virus, and for that social media giants need to make sure misinformation is reduced and users have easy access to authentic information sources. Facebook's step to launch a community hub cntributes to the platform's efforts in this regard as the community hub also includes links of government agencies and organizations which allows them to connect with their audience during the pandemic.
You can find a great range of information there and although it might not seem useful it is one of Facebook's efforts when it comes to educating its users.
