COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media: A Study of the Understanding, Attitudes and Behaviors of Social Media Users

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonses.273

Keywords:

Misinformation, Social media, COVID-19, Pandemic

Abstract

The dissemination of information via social media is important, particularly during a public health emergency. However, while it is undoubtedly useful in the targeting of genuine health communications, social media may also be used to spread health-related misinformation at times of disease outbreak or pandemic. The study presented here researches the spread of COVID-19 misinformation in Saudi Arabia, by exploring the relevant understanding, attitudes, and behaviors of Saudi Arabian citizens. The current study comprises a survey of 318 adults in Saudi Arabia, of all age groups and educational backgrounds, and from all Saudi Arabian provinces. This study highlights the significance of COVID-19 misinformation and concludes that, despite risks to public health and wellbeing, Saudi Arabian citizens do not consider COVID-19 misinformation to be a significant problem. Participants in this study were relatively aware of such misinformation and its dangers, but it did not greatly concern them, and generally they declined to tackle it proactively. 

Author Biography

Lowai G. Abed, University of Jeddah, College of Communication and Media, Department of Communication and Public Relations

Assistant Professor, University of Jeddah, College of Communication and Media, Department of Communication and Public Relations, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

References

Abed, L. G. (2021). COVID-19 misinformation on social media: A study of the understanding, attitudes and behaviors of social media users. International Journal on Social and Education Sciences (IJonSES), 3(4), 768-788. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonses.273

Downloads

Published

2021-10-10

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2021)

Section

Articles

License

Articles may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Authors alone are responsible for the contents of their articles. The journal owns the copyright of the articles. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of the research material.

The author(s) of a manuscript agree that if the manuscript is accepted for publication in the International Journal on Social and Education Sciences (IJonSES), the published article will be copyrighted using a Creative Commons “Attribution 4.0 International” license. This license allows others to freely copy, distribute, and display the copyrighted work, and derivative works based upon it, under certain specified conditions.

Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to include any images or artwork for which they do not hold copyright in their articles, or to adapt any such images or artwork for inclusion in their articles. The copyright holder must be made explicitly aware that the image(s) or artwork will be made freely available online as part of the article under a Creative Commons “Attribution 4.0 International” license.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.