Title:The COVID-19 and Ageism in Social Media
VOLUME: 1 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz*
Affiliation:Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran
Keywords:Ageism, COVID-19, discrimination, elderly people, public health, social media, pandemic.
Abstract:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognized as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
However, the median age of laboratory-confirmed cases is about 45 years and age is not a sole potential
risk for catching COVID-19; unfortunately, some social media pretend that elderly people are more
likely to be infected by COVID-19. Providing such information about the COVID-19 can increase the
stress and anxiety among the elderly that may weaken their immune system. It is suggested that social
media provide appropriate information to reduce public stress.