How Trust in Authority and Trust in Networks Relates to Verification and Sharing Behaviours: COVID-19 Health Information Sharing on WhatsApp

Messaging platforms like WhatsApp are some of the largest contributors to the spread of Covid-19 health misinformation but they also play a critical role in disseminating credible information and reaching populations at scale. This study explores the relationships between verification behaviours and intention to share information to users that report high trust in their personal network and users that report high trust in authoritative sources. The study was conducted as a survey delivered through WhatsApp to users of the WHO HealthAlert chatbot service. An adapted theoretical model from news verification behaviours was used to determine the correlation between the constructs. Due to an excellent response, 5477 usable responses were obtained, so the adapted research model could be tested by means of a Structural Equation Model (SEM) using the partial least squares algorithm on SmartPLS4. The findings suggest significant correlations between the constructs and suggest that participants that have reported high levels of trust in authoritative sources are less likely to share information due to their increased behaviours to verify information. © 2023 IEEE.

Analysis of technostress experienced by students at the university of cape town, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is used to improve the quality of many people's lives. However, heavy reliance on ICT can lead to technostress, causing health and productivity problems. Technostress has been analysed in organisations, but not in a university context, especially under remote learning during COVID-19. The purpose of this paper is to provide an explanatory contribution to knowledge regarding university students' experiences of technostress and how it impacts their academic productivity and performance. The data for this paper was collected using an online questionnaire among the students of one leading research university in Africa and used to test hypotheses related to a technostress theoretical model. The data was gathered from a convenience sample of 100 student responses. A technostress model (based on transaction theory of stress) was formed for hypothesis testing. Some hypotheses were not supported, but those that were indicated that universities should ensure that techno-complexity is reduced, and remote learning environments are improved. It was also found that technostress has a negative impact on academic productivity and performance, and that coping mechanisms can moderate the relationship between technostress and academic productivity and performance. The findings related to student remote learning environments and the moderating effect of student coping mechanisms are unique to this study. © 2022 International Association for Computer Information Systems

The Impact of ICTs and Homebased Workspaces on Employee Well-Being During COVID-19 in South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic placed the world under lockdown and forced most people to begin working from home in March 2020. This situation has both positive and negative consequences. This paper reports on research done to identify the minimum computing requirements for employees to experience a productive working day while working from home as well as exploring the impact that homebased workspaces have on social connections, stress management, and personal well-being during COVID-19. The research focused on South Africa and is based on 19 semi-structured interviews to explore and understand the differences in workers’ experiences and perceptions. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes. The key findings of this research revealed what a basic homebased work environment set up looks like in South Africa. These findings also revealed how homebased workspaces have a greater negative impact on South African women working from home. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.