For those data-driven folks: Liberals and those who rely on social media for news (but that's redundant) are misinformed about Covid-19 risks to a stunning degree.
Some findings:
Partisanship is plays a significant role in misinformation.
Implications:
Moreover, this isn't ignorance isn't just about covid. The Democrats overstate racism, climate change, economic troubles, and police misconduct because Democrats see political advantage in keeping people keyed up about these matters.
It's no wonder that as a whole conservatives and Republicans are less prone to anxiety and depression that are liberals and Democrats.
Some findings:
- On average, Americans believe that people aged 55 and older account for just over half of total COVID-19 deaths; the actual figure is 92%.
- Americans believe that people aged 44 and younger account for about 30% of total deaths; the actual figure is 2.7%.
- Americans overestimate the risk of death from COVID-19 for people aged 24 and younger by a factor of 50; and they think the risk for people aged 65 and older is half of what it actually is (40% vs 80%).
- People who get their information predominantly from social media have the most erroneous and distorted perception of risk.
- Those who identify as Democrats tend to mistakenly overstate the risk of death from COVID-19 for younger people much more than Republicans.
Implications:
From a public interest perspective, we believe the top priority should be better information and a less partisan, more fact-based public debate. It is shocking that six months into the pandemic so many people still ignore the basic mortality statistics, with perceived risk driven by political leanings rather than individual age and health. Misperceptions of risk distort both individual behavior and policy decisions.
The fact that a large share of the population overestimates the COVID-19 danger to the young will make a targeted public health response more difficult to agree on. We think it is also likely to delay the recovery, causing a deeper and prolonged recession. (My emphasis)
Some conclusions. The Democrats see a political advantage to the chaos and anxiety brought on by overstating the effects of the virus and obstructing any meaningful efforts at normalcy. So shut-downs and emphasis on cases and death counts, as well as deliberate misinformation, will last through election day. The fact that a large share of the population overestimates the COVID-19 danger to the young will make a targeted public health response more difficult to agree on. We think it is also likely to delay the recovery, causing a deeper and prolonged recession. (My emphasis)
Moreover, this isn't ignorance isn't just about covid. The Democrats overstate racism, climate change, economic troubles, and police misconduct because Democrats see political advantage in keeping people keyed up about these matters.
It's no wonder that as a whole conservatives and Republicans are less prone to anxiety and depression that are liberals and Democrats.
Moral of the story: Democrats and liberals should watch more Fox News.