Quite often, the damage caused by disinformation is simply allowing it to be spread.
Look at all the experts trying to fighting the lies Trump has been spreading. All that effort, and yet almost 50% of this country believes him. Every moment they have to spend debunking yet another lie is time they can't spend on something useful.
Look at all the people blaming 5g for COVID19. Every person that acts on that rumor and damages property or makes terrorist threats is drawing police attention away from something more useful.
Sometimes, you can't fight bad ideas by debunking them.
No, the media covered it because the president of the most powerful nation on earth making a speech about a global pandemic is newsworthy, and his words and actions have national and global impacts.
Look at all the experts trying to fighting the lies Trump has been spreading. All that effort, and yet almost 50% of this country believes him. Every moment they have to spend debunking yet another lie is time they can't spend on something useful.
Look at all the people blaming 5g for COVID19. Every person that acts on that rumor and damages property or makes terrorist threats is drawing police attention away from something more useful.
Sometimes, you can't fight bad ideas by debunking them.