The challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic have been met by unprecedented collaborative efforts across the research community. IDSS research on testing made an impact at MIT and elsewhere, including the development of the Covid-19 Testing Impact Calculator at whentotest.org.

As vaccines hopefully turn a corner in this global crisis, the focus has shifted from testing to vaccination, with challenges in areas like production and global distribution. Part of the challenge of vaccination is perceived risk, and in today's noisy online world, we are surrounded by misinformation that can hinder even the most effective public health messaging. From vaccines to elections, fake news has very real consequences.

Below is a look at some of the research that IDSS faculty have been doing in social networks, including a number of concrete suggestions for improving online platforms and minimizing the spread of dangerous misinformation. Let’s hope that these ideas will go half as viral as the sensational falsehoods we're all too accustomed to seeing.

Munther Dahleh, Director

William A. Coolidge Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science