The research employs the Uses and Gratification model to identify three key impacts of COVID-19 related misinformation on social media users: (1) an “infodemic” of health-related misinformation; (2) an increase in social media pastime; and (3) an increase in social, political, and religious conflicts. Several actions are proposed to limit the spread of fake news, involving entities such as government and health agencies, as well as social media companies