Social Media Users Claim Masking Children Is a Form of Abuse

Social media users, including prominent politicians, are increasingly making the false claim that making children wear masks is a form of child abuse. This is not the first time misinformation surrounding children and masks has spread, as posts in January falsely claimed that wearing masks can harm children physically and psychologically. While masks are not recommended for children under 2 years old or for those who are unable to remove the mask by themselves, masks are safe for children over 2. Because masks are effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the CDC still recommends that anyone who is not vaccinated—including children—continue to follow CDC’s guidelines on mask wearing. 

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