Nepal, Feb. 19 -- The role of mainstream media is increasingly shared by a myriad of platforms that are often accessed more frequently due to their easier availability, and more so in recent years as mobile phones and the internet permeate daily lives. One important concern that triggers a collective question is their utility, which cannot be argued from one aspect alone since they have both pros and cons. But what if informal media continue to pervade human lives so much so that they distort science through mis/disinformation?

The flow of misinformation and disinformation poses a significant threat to human lives, as highlighted in the literature on vaccine uptake. The World Health Organisation has also issued a stark warning that an in...