Facebook and Twitter are cracking down on videos that promote conspiracy theories and unproven COVID cures, but researchers say that removing already viral misinformation can backfire and make things worse

The “America’s Frontline Doctors” video posted on July 27 in which a white-coated group urged treatment of COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine, which federal agencies have called ineffective and potentially dangerous. The video went viral after President Trump tweeted it, and the platforms removed it that day. But posts about it spiked July 28, the day after Twitter banned it, researchers say. Why? Viral posts about a video that was suddenly unavailable piqued interest even more, they say.

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