Panic Buying of Toilet Paper Amid Fake News Spread in Australia

"COVID-19 Masks Are Like Toilet Paper Raw Materials" Fake News
Stockpiling Panic from Fake News about Toilet Paper Shortage in Japan Too

[Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] In Australia, amid the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), fake news claiming that COVID-19 prevention masks and toilet paper are made from the same material has spread through social networking services (SNS), leading to severe toilet paper hoarding. Although authorities have stated that these rumors are baseless, the panic-driven hoarding has not easily subsided.

According to foreign media such as the Associated Press, recently, large supermarkets in Australia have seen intensified toilet paper hoarding, prompting them to limit sales per person. Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain, has restricted customers to purchasing up to four packs of toilet paper each, while Costco stores have limited purchases to one pack per person.

The surge in toilet paper hoarding in Australia is reportedly due to COVID-19-related fake news spreading on SNS. Claims such as "the materials for COVID-19 prevention masks and toilet paper are the same" or "massive imports of toilet paper materials from China for mask production will soon cause a shortage of toilet paper" have circulated on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, fueling the hoarding phenomenon. Although Australian authorities have declared these rumors baseless, the panic has not easily calmed down.

Previously, in Japan, similar fake news about an impending toilet paper shortage spread on SNS, causing toilet paper hoarding. In response, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated on the 29th of last month, "There is no shortage of toilet paper," explaining that "there is no need to worry about supplies coming from China, and Japan has sufficient stock."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.