The world is chaotic at the moment. Coronavirus is threatening thousands of lives all over the world. In a time where everyone should be there for each other, many are planting fear through social media with fake news and hatred. And sadly, fear spreads faster than the virus itself. In the midst of an alarming crisis, I tend to seek content that is going to soothe and calm me. I know anxiety will only hinder me from distinguishing what is true and what is false.

A few days ago, I stumbled upon Chau Bui’s Instagram stories (click here). Chau is a Vietnamese influencer who just been to Italy a few weeks ago. As a result, she was sent into a quarantine camp in Saigon. Before I saw her stories, quarantine camps in Vietnam were notorious for its condition. Many people refused to go to the camp despite the fact that the health of themselves and others around them are at risk. They fear that the government will neglect them or fear that they will get infected in the camp.

Chau’s Instagram stories proved the opposite. Not only the facilities are in excellent condition, but the people inside the camp are all positive and supportive. Everyone has three full meals a day, women got flowers on International Women’s Day from the staff, people would share snacks and play sports together. Instead of worrying, everyone in the camp learns to adapt to the tranquil atmosphere. Seeing these Instagram stories was like finding peace in the storm. People are more willing to go to the quarantine camp instead of hiding because they know they will be taken care of.

I am glad that these stories are coming from an influencer since it helps these beautiful photos and clips reach more people. Using social media to obtain news, ethics of influencers and many more topics relating to social media will always remain a controversy. It is evidently a complex platform. This example has shown the positive and inspirational aspect of social media that everyone should be focusing on more.