Twitter Removes Federalist Tweet Advocating Coronavirus Pox Parties
Twitter removes a tweet from The Federalist that urges deliberate coronavirus infection, citing a violation of its new COVID-19 misinformation rules. Medical experts strongly condemn the dangerous proposal.
Twitter removes a controversial tweet from conservative magazine The Federalist that urges people to deliberately infect themselves with the coronavirus. The tweet promotes an article advocating for "controlled voluntary infection," comparing the concept to historical pox parties for childhood diseases. A Twitter spokesperson confirms that the post violates the platform's recently updated rules regarding COVID-19 misinformation.
The underlying article suggests that intentionally catching the virus builds immunity and prevents worse illness later in life, directly contradicting current government mandates to stay at home and slow the spread. Medical experts quickly condemn the proposal as dangerous and irresponsible. Vice reports that the article's author, Doug Perednia, is an unlicensed dermatologist in Oregon, and critics also point out that the piece uses a racist term in its headline.
This enforcement action highlights Twitter's aggressive approach to combating the spread of harmful health advice during the global pandemic. The social media platform actively updates its policies to prohibit tweets that place people at a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19. Additionally, Twitter proactively verifies known medical experts to ensure accurate information reaches the public while blocking links to content deemed potentially harmful.