Is Social Media the Top Priority for Seeking and Sharing Information About COVID-19 Among Indonesian Students?

Abstract

This study evaluates whether social media plays a role as the main source of information and, at the same time, as information sharing. Research on information-seeking behaviour, information needs, and information sharing has received increasing attention from various scientific communities since COVID-19 was declared a global epidemic. However, efforts have not been made to compare the capabilities of digital and interpersonal channels in both aspects of seeking and sharing information in Indonesia. Among the siege of information sources, identifying the primary sources of information used by students is important if the government is to intervene in health policies to overcome the pandemic. With an online survey conducted on 624 students, this study revealed that social media, which appears to be dominant as a source of COVID-19 information, cannot influence the behaviour of sharing information with others. The ETA correlation test confirms no correlation between the information source and information sharing behaviour. Indonesian students are moved to pass on information from interpersonal communication. In the two-stage communication model, individuals obtain information from the media and then discuss the information with others, which emerged in the conventional era and is still valid in today's digital era. The issue of trust is still inherent in social media, which makes it difficult to confirm the information on social media to be shared with others. The study explains that although communication technology has developed into the digital era, it does not necessarily eliminate the role of conventional technology. Keywords: COVID-19 information seeking and sharing, health communication, interpersonal communication, social media, two-stage communication.

Content management at kapanlagi.com: a study of Indonesian digital media

“…As a result, digitally delivered news will persist in catering to the specific demands of its consumers, particularly within the realm of news distributed through social media platforms. The practice of digital journalism is closely intertwined with social media, as evidenced by previous research (Domingo, 2008;Anderson, 2010;Kriyantono et al, 2023;Peters and Broersma, 2013;Heinrich, 2011;Russell, cited in Steensen and Ahva, 2015). Journalists frequently source news from the social media accounts of ordinary citizens in addition to established credible sources, and news dissemination is prevalent on social media platforms.…”

Perilaku Komunikasi Dosen dan Mahasiswa UB dan UUM dalam Mencari Informasi Sebelum dan Selama Pandemi Covid-19

“…Penyebaran Covid-19 juga telah sangat memengaruhi sistem pendidikan. Semua universitas di Malaysia dan Indonesia tidak bisa beroperasi normal dan proses belajarmengajar dilakukan secara online dari rumah karena kebijakan nasional menjaga jarak sosial dan mengurangi keramaian untuk memutus rantai penyebaran virus (Kriyantono et al, 2023;Selvanathan, Hussin, & Azazi, 2020). Akibatnya, pembelajaran online menyebabkan berkurangnya jumlah komunikasi tatap muka di kelas.…”

“…Berbagi informasi merupakan salah satu indikator dari perilaku pencarian informasi, dimana responden membagikan informasi yang diperoleh dari website perpustakaan universitas kepada orang lain (Esew et al, 2014;Kriyantono et al, 2023;Kwanya & Nyariki, 2019;Lekic et al 2020;Ikoja-Odongo & Mostert, 2006) Selain itu, hasil penelitian ini juga menunjukkan mahasiswa Universitas Utara Malaysia yang berbagi informasi dari website perpustakaan universitas kepada mahasiswa lain sebelum dan selama masa pandemi Covid-19 yang paling sering berbagi informasi adalah mahasiswa yang sedang mengerjakan skripsi dan disertasi, sedangkan mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya yang sering berbagi informasi dengan mahasiswa lainnya ketika sebelum pandemi Covid-19 adalah mahasiswa yang mengerjakan tesis dan mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya yang sering berbagi informasi dengan mahasiswa lainnya ketika selama pandemi Covid-19 adalah mahasiswa yang mengerjakan disertasi. Littlejohn, Foss, & Oetzel, 2017;Wang & Noe, 2010) menjelaskan bahwa pengetahuan merupakan salah satu jenis informasi yang diperoleh dalam proses mencari dan berbagi informasi, sama halnya dengan perilaku berbagi informasi yang dilakukan oleh mahasiswa Universitas Utara Malaysia dan mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya yang berbagi informasi yang mereka peroleh dari website perpustakaan universitas kepada mahasiswa lain terkait dengan pengetahuan atau bidang akademik (skripsi, tesis, disertasi, dll).…”

Influencer Credibility And Instagram Users' Purchase Interest

“…This confirms the impact of the message conveyed . Social media is also the media most widely used by the younger generation (Kriyantono et al, 2023) and this young generation is the target audience for Somethinc products. Therefore, the researchers formulated a hypothesis that there is a significant and strong level of relationship between Beauty Influencer Tasya Farasya's credibility and her followers' buying interest on Instagram @tasyafarasya for Somethinc skincare products.…”