This study investigated how social media infodemic has influenced public perception of COVID-19 in South-east Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Questionnaire served as instrument for data collection. The study was anchored on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), and the data collected were presented and analysed using chi-square. Results show that majority of the respondents were misinformed about COVID-19 as the result of information overload from social media as the results show significant relationship between COVID-19 infodemic and individual’s attitude to preventive measures of the disease. Traditional media (radio/television) provided a more reliable information on the virus. The study recommends social media education to enhance media literacy and ability to practice individual gatekeeping on social media information among online media consumers.
Nweze, Samuel; Nwafor, Kenneth Adibe; Oboke, David Ogbonnaya; Aneke, Maurine Chika; Nwamba, Jane Irene; Nwafor, Ezinne Comfort; Asogwa, Joel (2018) , Social Media, COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’ and Public Perception of the Pandemic in South-East Nigeria, International Journal of Network and Communication Research, Vol.5, No.2, pp.30-51
Keywords: COVID-19, Nigeria, Social media, South-East, infodemic’ and public perception, pandemic
