Examining the impact of media use during the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic led to global public health campaigns enacting strict orders to slow the spread of the disease. The public health initiatives were communicated broadly through diverse news sources and social media channels, spreading both factual information and misinformation about the environmental benefits related to the shelter-in-place orders. This quantitative study of United States residents (N = 1,048), guided by selective exposure theory, examined if demographics, news and/or social media source use, and public knowledge of environmental changes that took place as a result of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders predicted intent to engage in environmentally-conscious behavior. Results indicated demographics and social media used predicted intent to engage in environmentally-conscious behaviors. Intent to engage in environmental behaviors is critical for environmental sustainability and the media may provide one avenue for engaging the public in environmental behaviors. Discussion points include environmental communication strategies and understanding messaging strategies within the politicization process of communicating about environmental issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information Source Use and Social Media Engagement: Examining their Effects on Origin of COVID-19 Beliefs

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly infectious virus transmitted through droplets from sneezes and coughs, was declared a global pandemic in 2020. Measures implemented by organizations as a result of COVID-19 were controversial among United States (U.S.) citizens. Perceptions of governmental and scientific information further divided U.S. citizens and distrust in science fostered conspiratorial thinking toward the origin of the virus. The purpose of this study was to determine if critical thinking style (CTS), the use of COVID-19 information sources, and social media connections were predictors of origin of COVID-19 beliefs. A survey was disseminated to 1,048 U.S. adults in May 2020 when most states were under shelter-in-place orders. Results indicated select COVID-19 information sources used and social media connections predicted origin of COVID-19 beliefs. CTS was not a significant predictor. Findings revealed a partisan divide between COVID-19 information sources. Implications for science communicators engaging the public during crisis were discussed.