The following is a Plus Edition article, written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

Let's say you are at a county courthouse looking at old land records, and you find what you have been looking for: the transcription of your ancestor's deed showing his purchase of property. Of course, you need a copy; but the only available copy machine doesn't handle oversized documents. Even more important, you always prefer a digital image whenever possible as it is easier to store, copy, and include in your reports. However, there is no scanner available. What to do?

Use your cell phone's camera!

Most modern-day cell phones include cameras of 5 megapixels resolution or more. In fact, the current iPhone includes an 12-megapixel camera while most of today's Android cameras include the same or even higher resolution. (Beware of cameras claiming 20 or more megapixels. Those claims are technically correct, but those cameras take pictures that are usually “digitally enhanced” with the result being an 8- or 12-megapixel image.)

A 12-megapixel image—assuming it was created by properly-focused lenses and a high-quality sensor—will produce a BETTER image than does the typical photocopy machine. Cameras also easily handle oversized documents. Finally, a digital image can easily be saved anywhere, copied, sent by email, or used in almost any imaginable manner. You won't be required to insert quarters into a machine, either.

To be sure, my favorite method of digitizing paper is to use the desktop scanner I have at home. However, that isn't very useful when I am someplace else.

One drawback of the tablet computer and stage stand is that I do not carry them with me everywhere. If I find myself in need of a digital copy at other times, I revert to my second-favorite method: use my cell phone's camera.

With appropriate software installed, a smartphone becomes a pocket photocopier and scanner. Of course, you can always take a picture of any document at any time without using any extra software. However, if you take hundreds or even thousands of such pictures, you may find some difficulty when searching for the one image you need months later. Use of a document management program will make those images more useful and easier to find and retrieve.

I digitize most everything worth keeping. I digitize copies of ancestors' deeds, my insurance papers, prescriptions, bills, vegan recipes, magazine articles, motor vehicle registrations, my driver's license, my passport, receipts for income tax purposes, receipts from the automobile's last oil change, and anything else that I wish to keep. I typically use my Android camera several times a day to digitize various pieces of paper. Once digitized, I throw away about 99.9% of the paper. I store all my documents in the cloud as well as copies on the desktop and laptop computers. In addition, I can quickly retrieve any document at any time, even on my cell phone, wherever I am, as long as I have a decent cell phone signal. That can be handy when at the doctor's office, the motor vehicle department, or most anyplace else.

At this time I have digitized more than 3,000 documents, and all of them are available to me within seconds as long as I have my cell phone with me. I would hate to travel with all those documents on paper as the briefcase would be very heavy! Using digitized documents is faster and easier than using paper. Using proper backup techniques, digitized images also will last much longer than paper copies. That is especially true of those cash register receipts that seem to start fading away within weeks after being printed. Electronic images of the same documents, however, can remain readable for centuries. Assuming you have multiple digital copies stored in multiple locations, you no longer have to worry about fading ink, fire, flood, burst water pipes, mold, mildew, rodent damage, or any of the other things that easily destroy paper.

As soon as you start using a cell phone camera regularly to digitize documents, you will run into a document management issue: how do you quickly and easily find the one document you seek from the thousands you have stored?

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/12123000.

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

Commemorate the sacrifices made by our military ancestors with this week’s latest Findmypast Friday update.

Indian Army Service Records, 1900-1947

Did your ancestor serve in the Indian Army in the first half of the twentieth century? If so, this small but fascinating collection held at the British Library could shed new light on their story.

Spanning five decades and both world wars, these newly-released Indian Army records contain detailed service information for more than 12,000 personnel. From captains to conductors, colonels to cooks, these transcripts could provide invaluable insights into the careers of those that served. 

Each transcript also includes the corresponding British Library reference which means that having identified your soldier in this index, you can arrange to have the papers copied at the British Library.

Greater Burnley Roll of Honour

Search these records to uncover details of over 4,000 men who gave their lives for King and country in a book compiled and published by The Burnley Express 'to the memory of the fallen heroes of Greater Burnley' in Lancashire.

This poignant tally of casualties shows how many Burnley families lost numerous loved ones, such as the Hall family of Padiham who lost four sons and the Bolton family of Newchurch had two officer sons killed at Gallipoli and a third officer son who died of wounds as a PoW in a German hospital in 1918.

Each entry provides a variety of details such as ranks, regiments, honours & awards, home address, date & location of death and, in some cases, even cause of death.

Free access to all military records

Findmypast’s entire collection of world military records free to search and explore from now until 10:00am GMT Monday 15 November. Commemorate the sacrifices of your military ancestors by discovering their stories with over 106 million free records from the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand, British India and beyond.

From service records, pensions and rolls of honour to medals, casualties, personnel lists, burials and much more, explore documents spanning more than three centuries and covering a wide variety of conflicts ranging from the Napoleonic, American Revolutionary, Crimean and Boar Wars to both World Wars and beyond.

The above title obviously is not true. There are many obvious fairy tales published online and sites containing claims of genealogy records seem to have more inaccuracies than most other types of web site.

Here is an example of one that I received in an email message today from a newsletter reader:

"I really appreciated you article a while back about peer reviewed work and including all assertions.

"I just discovered two separate examples, one on FamilySearch FamilyTree and the other on an Ancestry public tree. On the FamilySearch FamilyTree, someone added a new wife and her six children. The Ancestry tree had five additional children born and added to a young mother after her death."

Reminder: Just because you read it online doesn't make it true.  Keep that in mind as you search for information online.

The Internet Archive is a valuable research tool for genealogists. I know that I have used it thousands of times and suspect others have done the same. Now two items concerning the Internet Archive are in the news:

1. The organization is 25 years old
2. The non-profit Internet Archive needs money

The following is an extract from an article by Tom Foremski  published in the ZD Net web site:

The San Francisco-based Internet Archive celebrates 25 years preserving the history of the internet, TV, and radio broadcasts. It is currently storing 475 billion web pages, 28 million scans of books and texts, and 14 million audio recordings -- adding up to 30 petabytes of data and beyond.

The Internet Archive has collected writings from more than one hundred million people so far. Brewster Kale, the Internet Archive's founder, says the organization's goal is to reach one billion individuals. 

"Now more than ever before, we need your help to continue collecting, preserving, and sharing our digital cultural artifacts," writes Kale. "We can have platforms and systems that are driven by altruism, not advertising models. We can have a world with many winners, where people participate, learn, and find new communities."

You can read more at: https://zd.net/3wHCxc4. 

The following is the press release from 23andme discussing the company's latest financial results:

Second quarter revenue of $55 million

Recent addition of telemedicine platform further advances vision of individualized primary care that empowers consumers to live healthier lives

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 10, 2021 -- 23andMe Holding Co. (ME) (“23andMe”), a leading consumer genetics and research company, today reported its financial results for the second quarter (“Q2”) of its fiscal year 2022 (“FY2022”), which ended September 30, 2021.

“With the addition of telemedicine and pharmacy services to our Personal Genome Service products and services, we significantly advance our efforts to provide consumers with convenient access to personalized, proactive and genetically-based health services,” said Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder of 23andMe. “We are also pleased with the progress of our therapeutics pipeline. Our partner, GSK, expects to report clinical data from the CD96 program in 2022. In addition, we expect to start a clinical trial with our wholly owned P006 program by the end of fiscal year 2022.”

Recent Highlights

• • Completed the acquisition of Lemonaid Health, Inc (“Lemonaid Health”), an on-demand platform for accessing medical care and pharmacy services online
  • Expanded customer database to 11.9 million genotyped customers
  • Launched three new reports for customers subscribed to 23andMe+, a membership service that offers insights and features to give members even more actionable information to live healthier lives. These new reports use machine learning to create a statistical model that estimates a person’s likelihood of developing a specific condition. The new reports released in the second quarter were:
    • A gallstones report that uses 6,950 genetic markers, along with a customer’s ethnicity and sex, to estimate a person’s likelihood of developing gallstones
    • An HDL cholesterol report that uses 15,825 genetic markers, along with a customer’s ethnicity and sex, to estimate the likelihood of an individual having low HDL (or “good”) cholesterol
    • A gestational diabetes report that uses a person’s ethnicity and more than 6,000 genetic variants associated with developing gestational diabetes mellitus to estimate a person’s likelihood of developing this condition.
  • Reported on key genetic research findings in Q2, including findings regarding COVID-19 vaccines reactions, health implications of e-cigarette use and genes associated with longer reproductive lifespan in women
  • Added a new ancestry analysis, which offers additional insights into some customers’ indigenous genetic ancestry from North America.
  • Added a new board member: Sandra R. Hernández, President and CEO of the California Health Care Foundation

“We made good progress on advancing our consumer health services segment with product enhancements, such as new genetic health risk reports and the acquisition of Lemonaid Health. These additions are aimed at extending our personalized and customer-centric philosophy to help people live healthier lives,” said Steve Schoch, Chief Financial Officer of 23andMe. “While we will be updating guidance next quarter to include the effects of the Lemonaid Health acquisition, currently, our prior full-year guidance for 23andMe, excluding the consolidation of Lemonaid Health, is consistent with our current view of expected performance.”

FY2022 Second Quarter Financial Results
Total revenue for the three- and six-months ended September 30, 2021, was $55 million and $114 million, respectively, representing increases of 7% and 15%, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. This revenue growth was primarily due to higher Personal Genome Service (“PGS”) kit sales and subscriptions, a service that is still in its first year post launch.

Consumer services revenue represented approximately 81% of total revenue for the three and six months ended September 30, 2021, and research services revenue, substantially all derived from the collaboration with GSK, accounted for approximately 19% of total revenue.

Operating expenses for the three- and six-months ended September 30, 2021 were $74 million and $147 million, respectively, compared to $61 million and $120 million for the same periods in the prior year. The increase in operating expenses was primarily attributable to the increase in research and development expenses related to our therapeutics programs along with sales and marketing expenses intended to grow the consumer business.

Net loss for the three- and six-months ended September 30, 2021 was $17 million and $59 million, respectively, compared to net losses of $36 million and $72 million for the same periods in the prior year. The improvement in net loss was primarily driven by changes in fair value of warrant liabilities of $30 million and $29 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended September 30, 2021. It is anticipated that there could be significant changes in the fair value of the warrant liabilities from quarter to quarter.

Total Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for the three and six months ended September 30, 2021 was $(30) million and $(57) million, respectively, compared to $(20) million and $(40) million for the same periods in the prior year. The decrease in total Adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by an increase in research and development expenses related to our therapeutics programs and sales and marketing expenses designed to grow the consumer business. Adjusted EBITDA for the three- and six-months ended September 30, 2021 for the Consumer & Research Services segment was $(0.8) million and $(1.3) million, respectively, compared to $1.8 million and $(2.5) million for the same periods in the prior year.

Balance Sheet
23andMe ended Q2 FY2022 with cash of $701 million, compared to $282 million as of March 31, 2021. The increase was attributable to the $560 million in gross proceeds from the completion of the business combination during the first quarter of FY2022. Subsequent to the end of Q2 FY2022, 23andMe paid approximately $102 million in cash consideration for the acquisition of Lemonaid Health, of which approximately $13 million was placed in escrow to cover a potential purchase price adjustment and to secure the indemnification obligations of the former equity holders of Lemonaid Health.

FY2022 Financial Guidance
Our previous full-year FY2022 guidance, excluding the effects of the Lemonaid Health acquisition, is unchanged. Updated FY2022 guidance, including the effects of the Lemonaid Health acquisition, will be provided with our third quarter update. For purposes of our net loss guidance, due to the unpredictable nature of market-driven changes, we have assumed no net change in the fair value of warrant liability for the year.

Conference Call Webcast Information
23andMe will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 to discuss the financial results for Q2 FY2022 and report on business progress. The webcast can be accessed on the day of the event at https://investors.23andme.com/news-events/events-presentations. A webcast replay will be available at the same address for a limited time within 24 hours after the event.

About 23andMe
23andMe, headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, is a leading consumer genetics and research company. Founded in 2006, the company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. 23andMe has pioneered direct access to genetic information as the only company with multiple FDA authorizations for genetic health risk reports. The company has created the world’s largest crowdsourced platform for genetic research, with approximately 80 percent of its customers electing to participate. The 23andMe research platform has generated more than 180 publications on the genetic underpinnings of a wide range of diseases, conditions, and traits. The platform also powers the 23andMe Therapeutics group, currently pursuing drug discovery programs rooted in human genetics across a spectrum of disease areas, including oncology, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to other therapeutic areas. More information is available at www.23andMe.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future performance of 23andMe’s businesses in consumer genetics and therapeutics and the growth and potential of its proprietary research platform. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this press release, including statements regarding 23andMe’s strategy, financial position, funding for continued operations, cash reserves, projected costs, plans, and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "may," "could," "should," "potential," "likely," "projects," “predicts,” "continue," "will," “schedule,” and "would" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are predictions based on 23andMe’s current expectations and projections about future events and various assumptions. 23andMe cannot guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on 23andMe’s forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond the control of 23andMe), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject to other risks and uncertainties that are described in 23andMe’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 13, 2021 and in the reports subsequently filed by 23andMe with the SEC. The statements made herein are made as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by law, 23andMe undertakes no obligation to update them, whether as a result of new information, developments, or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

To supplement the 23andMe’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, which are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), this press release also includes references to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that 23andMe defines as net income before net interest expense (income), net other expense (income), changes in fair value of warrant liabilities, depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, amortization of internal use software, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and expenses related to restructuring and other charges, if applicable for the period. 23andMe has provided a reconciliation of net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA at the end of this press release.

Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by 23andMe’s management and the board of directors to understand and evaluate operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve 23andMe’s annual budget and to develop short- and long-term operating plans. 23andMe provides Adjusted EBITDA because 23andMe believes it is frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in its industry and it facilitates comparisons on a consistent basis across reporting periods. Further, 23andMe believes it is helpful in highlighting trends in its operating results because it excludes items that are not indicative of 23andMe’s core operating performance. In particular, 23andMe believes that the exclusion of the items eliminated in calculating Adjusted EBITDA provides useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of 23andMe’s business. Accordingly, 23andMe believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information in understanding and evaluating operating results in the same manner as 23andMe’s management and board of directors.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future 23andMe will incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this presentation. 23andMe’s presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies, including companies in the same industry, may calculate similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison. There are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP financial measures rather than net loss, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA include (i) Adjusted EBITDA does not properly reflect capital commitments to be paid in the future, and (ii) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the underlying assets may need to be replaced and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect these capital expenditures. When evaluating 23andMe’s performance, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including net loss and other GAAP results.

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

• Findmypast mark Veterans Day 2021 by making their entire collection of military records free to search and explore
• All UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and US records are now free to access until 10:00 GMT  Monday 15 November

Leading family history website Findmypast have made their entire collection of world military records free to search and explore from now until 10:00am GMT Monday 15 November.

By providing free access to over 100 million records from the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand and British India, Findmypast is offering researchers across the globe the chance to honour the struggles and sacrifices endured by their military ancestors through telling their stories.

From service records, pensions and rolls of honour to medals, casualties, personnel lists, burials and much more, the free access period includes all manner of resources spanning more than three centuries and covering a wide variety of conflicts ranging from the Napoleonic, American Revolutionary, Crimean and Boar Wars to both World Wars and beyond.

Visit https://www.findmypast.com/page/free-access to find out more.

The following was written by the Irish Genealogical Research Society:

The Council of the Irish Genealogical Research Society is pleased to announce that the 2021 recipient of the Wallace Clare Award is Julian C. Walton, MA, FIGRS. Julian has made a truly remarkable contribution to the study of Irish genealogy over five decades. Through his meticulous research and scholarly articles, his transcription of memorial inscriptions and his engaging communication of genealogical and local history topics, he has contributed greatly to the furtherance of ancestral research in Ireland.

Julian Walton is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable genealogists in Ireland, particularly in relation to the more esoteric early modern sources. The Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) has been fortunate to have him as a member for over half a century. From the beginning he was a willing volunteer. Much of Julian’s work in Irish genealogy was done through his membership of the IGRS.

He joined the Society in 1969 and immediately became immersed in voluntary work. From 1970 to 2003 he served on the editorial committee of the Irish Genealogist, the Society’s annual journal, and he was Honorary Editor in 1988-1989. In 1971 the IGRS Tombstone Sub-Committee was established and Julian was its secretary throughout its existence. Its endeavours culminated in the 2-volume Tombstone Inscriptions compilation produced by the IGRS in 2001.

In the early 1970s he was one of a group of IGRS members who arranged occasional lectures in Dublin. This led to the official formation of the IGRS Ireland Branch in 1986 and he served as Chairman of the branch from 1986 to 1990. Julian was elected a Fellow of the Society in 1975. He was appointed to the Council in 1983 and he has been a Vice President since 1988.

In more recent years Julian has been involved in genealogy and local history in the Waterford area. He was editor of Decies (the journal of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society). In 1990 he began work with the Waterford Heritage Survey. This involved record indexing, conducting research and running a heritage induction course, before undertaking the conservation of the library of Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford. This involved work on 3,000 books, some dating from the sixteenth century. He later conducted similar work on the library of St. Finbarre’s Cathedral, Cork, at the Boole Library in University College Cork.

Julian lectured widely on aspects of Irish genealogy and local history. He spoke at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of the Irish Genealogical Congress, giving the keynote address at the 2nd IGC. His many contributions to Waterford history included popularising the subject through a weekly slot on the local radio station WLRFM, starting in 1993. Two selections of his radio stories were published in the 2010s, with accompanying audio discs.

Perhaps his most lasting contributions to Irish heritage are his writings. His book The Royal Charters of Waterford was published in 1992. He contributed articles to various periodicals, including Decies, Analecta Hibernica, the Irish Ancestor and, of course, the Irish Genealogist. Those in the Irish Genealogist include various ‘Beginners’ Pages’ published in between 1980 and 1987, miscellaneous transcribed monumental inscriptions, hearth money rolls from Co. Kilkenny, references to eighteenth century Irish inhabitants of Cadiz, Waterford Freemen 1542-1650, and detailed histories of the Aylward and Bolton families.

Steven Smyrl, Chairman of the Council of the IGRS, announcing the Wallace Clare Award recipient for 2021, said: ‘Julian is thoroughly deserving of this year’s award. His dedication to the pursuit and promotion of Irish genealogy over many years has had a very significant impact on the development of Irish ancestral research. The IGRS has benefitted greatly from his membership.’

NOTES:

Irish Genealogical Research Society

Founded in 1936, the Irish Genealogical Research Society is oldest and largest organisation devoted to Irish ancestral research. It was founded in London by Rev. Wallace Clare, with the primary aim of gathering material to replace some of the sources lost in the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922. The IGRS has been publishing the learned journal the Irish Genealogist since its inception. The Society’s membership is worldwide. There are two branches: the Ireland Branch (covering the island of Ireland) and the London & South East Branch (covering the Greater London area), which organise events for members based in those locations.

Wallace Clare Award

Rev. Wallace Clare (1895-1963) was an English-born Roman Catholic priest of Irish ancestry. He was the founder of the IGRS, and its guiding light for its early decades. Father Clare initiated the Society’s core policy of maintaining a library. The library now holds valuable and often unique collections of record transcripts and abstracts. The award is named in his honour. It was instituted in 2020, with four initial recipients. One additional recipient will be announced annually.

The mystery of a teenage hitchhiker, now identified as Daniel Paul Armantrout, was solved 60 years later because of advances in DNA technology and genealogy.

They called him “Unknown Boy.”

The blue-eyed hitchhiker with olive skin drowned when the car he was riding in crashed through the rail of a bridge and plunged into the Cahaba River in Bibb County, Ala., on March 27, 1961, according to an F.B.I. report. The driver survived the crash and offered a few details about the boy but not enough to identify him.

The boy had a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes on him, a Timex watch on his wrist and a Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception tied around his neck with cotton twine. He had been hitchhiking through Alabama, possibly en route to California, but not much else was known about him.

The local authorities tried for weeks to identify him and find his family. A viewing was held for him at a local funeral home, where many town leaders came to pay their respects. The child was buried in a coffin that local residents paid for, under a white marble headstone that read, “Unknown in Life but Recognized in Death.”

Last week, more than 60 years later, the mystery was solved, the product of advances in DNA technology and genealogy. The boy was 15-year-old Daniel Paul Armantrout, known as Danny, according to a local coroner and genealogists, and confirmed in an interview by a surviving brother.

You can read the rest of the story in the New York Times at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/us/unknown-boy-danny-armantrout-identified.html.

"I read it online so it must be true!"

Are you guilty of this? If so, you may soon be referred to as "The late (insert your name here)."

Bethesda, Maryland, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americans who consider social media influential on their perceptions about COVID-19 and vaccines are far more likely than the general population to believe false and misleading information about the virus, according to a new study. Based on a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation and pollster and communications analyst Dr. Frank Luntz, the analysis draws a direct and irrefutable correlation between Americans’ use of social media and belief of inaccurate information. 

In addition, people who said social media is an influential source of information were 16% less likely to report that they had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, respondents said TV news or their own doctor is their most influential source of information about COVID-19. But those who said they social media is a major source were far more likely to believe false and misleading statements about COVID-19.

“This is the first global virus in the era of social media and fake news,” said Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and chief executive officer of the de Beaumont Foundation. “This isn’t just a concern about COVID-19, but about the potential of social media as a conduit for misinformation about health or any other issue.” 

Dr. Luntz added, “These results show more clearly than ever that the people who rely on social media as a primary source of information about COVID-19 -- and those who use social media most frequently -- are most likely to believe false information. Worse yet, it proves that people who most frequently share social media information are most likely to be misinformed.” 

Key findings: 

People who say social media is their primary sources of information about COVID-19 are far more likely to believe false information about vaccines.

The survey asked about 10 specific false or misleading statements, including these:

• • The true number of people infected with coronavirus is deliberately hidden from the public.
  • COVID-19 was released with the aim of destroying some of the world’s economies.
  • COVID-19 is only as serious as the common flu.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine could make people infertile and unable to have kids.
  • These new mRNA vaccines could alter your DNA.

For each of these five statements, people who said that social media was one of their most influential sources were more than 15% more likely than the general population to agree with them. But people who said doctors or state, local, or federal officials are their most influential sources of information were significantly less likely than the general population to believe them. 

People’s primary source of information is correlated with their vaccination status.

In the poll, 67% said they had received at least one vaccine dose, compared with just 56% of those who said social media is one of their main sources of information. 

Social media is reinforcing people’s reluctance to get vaccinated.

51% of unvaccinated respondents who named social media as a primary news source said social media was pushing them to wait or not get vaccinated. And people who share information on social media daily are more likely to agree with false statements about COVID-19 and vaccines.

Social media has become a leading source of information about COVID-19.

Nearly 70% of respondents said they use social media when seeking information about COVID-19, and 60% have shared information about the virus on social media.

The public is split about what should be done about misinformation and disinformation online.

When asked to choose between two options, 53% said social media companies should “restrict and/or remove what they determine to be misinformation or disinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccines,” while 47% said companies should “leave the content about COVID-19 and the vaccines alone and let the reader/viewer decide for themselves.” There’s a partisan divide on this issue, as 69% of Biden voters said social media companies should remove content, compared with only 39% of Trump voters.

Methodology

Morning Consult conducted a poll among a sample of 3,000 adults, on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation and Dr. Frank Luntz, September 20-22, 2021. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

About the de Beaumont Foundation

The de Beaumont Foundation creates and invests in bold solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. Its mission is to advance policy, build partnerships, and strengthen public health to create communities where everyone can achieve their best possible health. For more information, visit debeaumont.org.

Further details  may be found at: https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/3e35758c-44b9-4f08-87c9-b37b883c1d59

From the Fold3 Blog:

On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding presided over the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. The monument honored fallen U.S. servicemen from WWI whose remains were unidentified. The ceremony took place the same day the country was celebrating the newly declared Armistice Day holiday.

Construction begins on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 1921

During WWI, the chaos of battle resulted in scores of unidentified dead servicemen. The creation of the memorial, also known as the Tomb of the Unknowns, was proposed in 1920 by New York Congressman and WWI veteran Hamilton Fish. Both Great Britain and France had dedicated similar monuments in 1920, and in March 1921, Congress approved the plan to build America’s tribute to unidentified fallen soldiers.

You can read a lot more at: https://blog.fold3.com/100th-anniversary-of-the-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-november-11-2021/