Impact of mobile connectivity and freedom on fake news propensity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-country empirical examination

Perceptions of Macro- and Micro-Level Factors Predict COVID-19 Self-Reported Health and Safety Guidelines Adherence

“…Freedom was measured very broadly in the present study (i.e., how “free” the individual rates their country), but freedom may be assumed to refer to various aspects of freedom, including freedom of expression and access to information, freedom of movement, and freedom of choice (Joseph, 2020). Across countries, political freedom (along with mobile connectivity) has contributed to Covid-19-related fake news tendencies, whereas economic freedom and media freedom prevent it (Shirish et al, 2021). Fake news might in turn reduce adherence to Covid-19 safety measures (Kowalski et al, 2020; Pavleva Banai & Mikloušić, 2021; van Mulukom et al, 2020).…”

“…In particular, in democratic governments, a higher number of Covid-19 infections might be accepted for individuals to have more freedom (Tisdell, 2020). Yet, in a dataset comprising 72 countries, political freedom as well as mobile connectivity were found to contribute to Covid-19-related fake news tendencies, whereas economic freedom and media freedom prevent it (Shirish et al, 2021). Fake news might in turn reduce adherence to Covid-19 safety measures (Kowalski et al, 2020; Pavleva Banai & Mikloušić, 2021).…”

Structural Influences on the News Finds Me Perception: Why People Believe They Don’t Have to Actively Seek News Anymore

“…Data from the past decades have shown that countries with high internet access or internet connectivity evince higher internet usage among individuals (The World Bank, 2018). Likewise, internet connectivity and access are strongly dependent on an adequate infrastructure and resources available in the respective country, thereby influencing levels of education, social development, economic growth (ITU & UNESCO, 2020)-and also news use (e.g., fake news: Shirish et al, 2021). It is, therefore, likely that in countries in which more citizens have access to the internet and in countries in which there are more broadband accesses registered, the NFM might be more prevalent.…”

Mapping Disinformation During the Covid-19 in Indonesia: Qualitative Content Analysis

“…The fears implicit in the Covid-19 disinformation have projected people's emotional state because Allport and Portman (Pulford, 2019) pointed out that when people have less information about their environment, they fail to objectively and impartially understand any information (Saurwein & Spencer-Smith, 2020). The misleading information on Covid-19 also shows this projection that people who fear their lives will contract the coronavirus will fall easy prey to disinformation (Shirish, Srivastava, & Chandra, 2021). During a pandemic, an emergency is supposed to alert the public, but disinformation exacerbates the situation.…”

“…Therefore, people need the competence to take advantage of technology in improving eHealth literacy (Chesser et al, 2015). On the other side, the study offers the government, especially the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, has increased socialization to the public, especially through social media related to hoax news reports on the Kominfo website (Shirish et al, 2021). This is to increase public awareness and information literacy against disinformation during the Covid 19 pandemic so that the public can sort out which information is trusted and can be disseminated.…”