Fake News or Real News? Sharing Behaviors on Social Media about COVID-19
Start Date
30-10-2021 1:30 PM
End Date
30-10-2021 2:00 PM
Location
Online Zoom Session
Abstract
Guided by the Uses and Gratification theory and Impression Management theory, this study aims to find out whether there are predictable types of COVID-19 fake news that are easier to spread or there are predictable types of people that are more likely to spread COVID-19 fake news. We recently performed a survey study on social media users’ sharing of COVID-19 fake news. The study found that online trust is positively associated with the sharing of COVID-19 fake news. In contrast, awareness about COVID-19 and activeness in social media activities have a negative association with the sharing of COVID-19 fake news. Furthermore, the results indicate that individuals are less likely to share scientific COVID-19 fake news than policy-related COVID-19 fake news, and online trust is a key factor in determining whom to share the news with. The findings have implications for reducing the negative impacts of COVID-19 fake news spread during the pandemic.
Fake News or Real News? Sharing Behaviors on Social Media about COVID-19
Online Zoom Session
Guided by the Uses and Gratification theory and Impression Management theory, this study aims to find out whether there are predictable types of COVID-19 fake news that are easier to spread or there are predictable types of people that are more likely to spread COVID-19 fake news. We recently performed a survey study on social media users’ sharing of COVID-19 fake news. The study found that online trust is positively associated with the sharing of COVID-19 fake news. In contrast, awareness about COVID-19 and activeness in social media activities have a negative association with the sharing of COVID-19 fake news. Furthermore, the results indicate that individuals are less likely to share scientific COVID-19 fake news than policy-related COVID-19 fake news, and online trust is a key factor in determining whom to share the news with. The findings have implications for reducing the negative impacts of COVID-19 fake news spread during the pandemic.