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Health and science-related disinformation on COVID-19: A content analysis of hoaxes identified by fact-checkers in Spain.
León, Bienvenido; Martínez-Costa, María-Pilar; Salaverría, Ramón; López-Goñi, Ignacio.
  • León B; Journalism Faculty, Department of Journalism Projects, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
  • Martínez-Costa MP; Journalism Faculty, Department of Journalism Projects, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
  • Salaverría R; Journalism Faculty, Department of Journalism Projects, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
  • López-Goñi I; Medicine Faculty, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
PLoS One ; 17(4): e0265995, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1789181
ABSTRACT
A massive "infodemic" developed in parallel with the global COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to public misinformation at a time when access to quality information was crucial. This research aimed to analyze the science and health-related hoaxes that were spread during the pandemic with the objectives of (1) identifying the characteristics of the form and content of such false information, and the platforms used to spread them, and (2) formulating a typology that can be used to classify the different types of hoaxes according to their connection with scientific information. The study was conducted by analyzing the content of hoaxes which were debunked by the three main fact-checking organizations in Spain in the three months following WHO's announcement of the pandemic (N = 533). The results indicated that science and health content played a prominent role in shaping the spread of these hoaxes during the pandemic. The most common hoaxes on science and health involved information on scientific research or health management, used text, were based on deception, used real sources, were international in scope, and were spread through social networks. Based on the analysis, we proposed a system for classifying science and health-related hoaxes, and identified four types according to their connection to scientific knowledge "hasty" science, decontextualized science, badly interpreted science, and falsehood without a scientific basis. The rampant propagation and widespread availability of disinformation point to the need to foster media and scientific caution and literacy among the public and increase awareness of the importance of timing and substantiation of scientific research. The results can be useful in improving media literacy to face disinformation, and the typology we formulate can help develop future systems for automated detection of health and science-related hoaxes.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Media / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0265995

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Media / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0265995