Fake News And The 1918 Flu

The video discusses the spread of misinformation during pandemics, comparing the modern era with the 1918 influenza pandemic. It highlights how both government and media played roles in downplaying the severity of the disease to maintain morale during World War I. The Sedition Act of 1918 further suppressed press freedom, leading to more deaths from the pandemic than from the war itself. The video emphasizes the importance of press freedom in holding those in power accountable.

What lessons can be learned from the handling of the 1918 influenza pandemic regarding truth and public health?

What was the primary reason for the downplaying of the influenza pandemic by President Woodrow Wilson during World War I?

In what ways did the public's perception of the influenza pandemic differ from the reality of its impact?

How did the Sedition Act of 1918 affect the press during the influenza pandemic?

What were some of the consequences of the media's response to the pandemic in 1918?