Facebook launched today a new coronavirus (COVID-19) community hub designed to help people stay connected with friends and family members as part of social distancing. The new hub also aims to help fight the spread of misinformation on the messaging platform.
The community hub provides tips on keeping a physical distance with your loved ones while maintaining a connection with them. This can be in the form of "scheduling a virtual play date with your kids’ friends or connecting with their teachers or other parents for school updates", Facebook suggests. The hub can also help local community leaders organize group video chats or text groups to get support from one another in this time of public health crisis.
In addition, Facebook"s developer partners will work with reliable health organizations like the UNICEF, World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control to deliver timely information and answers to public queries on COVID-19.
The hub also has resources to help people avoid online scammers that take advantage of the situation. It complements Facebook"s coronavirus information center launched last week to combat fake news surrounding the pandemic.