Misinformation Sharing and Behavioural Pattern of Nigerians on a Viral Covid-19 Disinformation Video

Year 2023, Issue: 11, 94 - 117, 21.04.2023

Raheemat Adeniran , Lai Oso

https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2023.6.11.191

Abstract

This study focuses on a COVID-19 disinformation video promoting hydroxychloroquine as a cure, while dismissing other promoted preventive behaviours. It examines the virality of the video among Nigerians, their convictions on claims made, and likely behaviour in the possibility of suspected COVID-19 infection. The study was premised on the Availability Cascade Effect which predicts a higher tendency for people to believe viral information, especially when supported by individuals considered experts on the issue being promoted. It adopted the survey research method, using snowball sampling. Data for the study was gathered electronically online from 222 participants who responded to survey. The snowball sampling method was adopted by the researcher due to movement restrictions in the country occasioned by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic at the time of data collection. Findings from the study show that over 90 percent or respondents were aware of the video, but with limited shares. Despite repeated fact-checks, those who still believed the claims were found more likely to try hydroxychloroquine than those who do not. Respondents were mostly positive on adhering to promoted COVID-19 preventive measures despite the contrary claim in the video. The virality of the video, compared to its fact-checks, supports the need to stop misinformation from spreading very early. Hence, there must be sustained efforts to continuously track misinformation in the public space, and strive to stop its spread immediately.

Keywords

COVID-19 Disinformation/Misinformation, COVID-19 Behaviour, COVID-19 Video, hydroxychloroquine, Nigeria.

Viral Bir Covid-19 Dezenformasyon Videosu Bağlamında Nijeryalıların Davranış Modelleri ve Yanlış Bilgi Paylaşımı

Abstract

This study focuses on a COVID-19 disinformation video promoting hydroxychloroquine as a cure, while dismissing other promoted preventive behaviours. It examines the virality of the video among Nigerians, their convictions on claims made, and likely behaviour in the possibility of suspected COVID-19 infection. The study was premised on the Availability Cascade Effect which predicts a higher tendency for people to believe viral information, especially when supported by individuals considered experts on the issue being promoted. It adopted the survey research method, using snowball sampling. Data for the study was gathered electronically online from 222 participants who responded to survey. The snowball sampling method was adopted by the researcher due to movement restrictions in the country occasioned by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic at the time of data collection. Findings from the study show that over 90 percent or respondents were aware of the video, but with limited shares. Despite repeated fact-checks, those who still believed the claims were found more likely to try hydroxychloroquine than those who do not. Respondents were mostly positive on adhering to promoted COVID-19 preventive measures despite the contrary claim in the video. The virality of the video, compared to its fact-checks, supports the need to stop misinformation from spreading very early. Hence, there must be sustained efforts to continuously track misinformation in the public space, and strive to stop its spread immediately.

Keywords

COVID-19 Disinformation/Misinformation, COVID-19 Behaviour, COVID-19 Video, hydroxychloroquine, Nigeria.

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