This podcast offers advice for communicating with family and friends about COVID-19.

The two-step flow theory states that information starts with the media and then people take that information and filter it out to other people in an attempt to help friends and family members understand information. Science communicators offer four tips for how to communicate about coronavirus with friends and family:

• Start where you are with the people you are close to
  • Understand your identity as a messenger to know who you can relate to and how to relate to them
• Pick your battles
  • People process information through different lenses and so it is important not to attack people’s identities (e.g., do not confuse political arguments with science communication)
  • Identify and affirm a shared identity first so that you are trusted and then the person will be more likely to listen because s/he does not feel attacked
• Avoid unforced errors
  • Do not reinforce misinformation because the more someone hears something, the more likely that person is to believe it, even if untrue
• Be honest and transparent