24. How a Single Post Ignites a Public Health Crisis in San Lorenzo
In 2025, a fictional city, San Lorenzo, faces a public health crisis when false claims about the dangers of a new vaccine circulate on social media. Influenced by a viral post from a self-proclaimed health expert, Dr. Alex Freeman, many citizens, including young professional Emily Watson, become hesitant to receive the vaccine. Local media outlets struggle to combat this wave of misinformation.
Individual outcomes
Individuals like Emily are torn between fear and the need for health protection, leading to anxiety and potential health risks. Family dinner are now a battlefield for conflicting opinions, and this impacts everyone.
Societal outcomes
Societally, the misinformation undermines public health initiatives and strains healthcare systems. This leads to heated public debates and divisions in the society, pitting vaccinated against unvaccinated citizens in a poisonous cycle. Personal freedoms, opinions, responsibility towards others and medical expertise all clash without the calm and reasonable mediation that the media should provide.
Competences involved in this scenario:
Social systems affected by this scenario:
M6. Claim verification
D4. Detection of digital deception
S4. Official and unofficial sources
Healthcare Providers
Media
Government Healthcare System