Social media infodemics and social distancing under the COVID-19 pandemic: public good provisions under uncertainty.
Glob Health Action
; 14(1): 1995958, 2021 01 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1528094
ABSTRACT
This debate examines the impact of infodemics - an over-abundance of information - on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of its external effects, social distancing behavior (SDB) shares fundamental properties with public goods, whose potential for undersupply has been examined extensively in the social sciences. Although the negative effects of infodemics have been emphasized by governments and international organizations, theoretical models suggest that infodemics may work as a mitigation mechanism. That is, infodemics may enhance people's SDBs. Based on original survey data, we show that media exposure can positively increase SDB. We conclude by discussing two public health implications. First, the media plays an important role in motivating SDB. Second, even if infodemics can increase SDB, we must be wary of their ability to pose other, non-negligible dangers.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Media
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Glob Health Action
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
16549716.2021.1995958
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS