Rotherham councillors' concerns over online Covid conspiracies

In a meeting of Rotherham Council's overview and scrutiny management board, Coun Victoria Cusworth asked what is being done about conspiracy theorists.

Coun Emma Hoddinott, cabinet member for waste, roads and community safety told the meeting: "One of the biggest concerns is around what's on the internet and social media people reading that stuff, and believing it.

"I think it's becoming increasingly hard, for young people as well, to determine what is what is fact and what is conspiracy.”

A YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project, a survey of 26,000 people in 25 countries in collaboration with the Guardian newspaper, found that one of the most widely-believed conspiracy theories was that the virus had been “deliberately and greatly exaggerated”.

The global survey, published in October, found that around one in four French and one in five British and Spanish respondents believed the death rate of the virus had been exaggerated.

Lockdown Two – 12 businesses that do home delivery

The Moor Market campaigns to remain fully open

The Star’s coronavirus live blog

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.