👉 The ESPN "infection" refers to a viral misinformation campaign that emerged during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly associated with ESPN's social media platforms. This campaign spread false and misleading health information about the virus, its transmission, and potential treatments, often using sensationalist headlines and dubious sources to attract attention. The term "infection" was used metaphorically to describe how quickly these false claims spread and infected a wide audience, including fans and casual viewers, leading to confusion and mistrust in official health guidelines. ESPN's role in this misinformation highlights the platform's responsibility in curating content and the potential consequences of failing to address and correct such viral falsehoods promptly.
