Lawyers Response to COVID-19 Infodemic on Social Media

Abstract

<p><b>Objectives</b>: The primary objective of this study is to examine and analyze the skills and practices of lawyers in response to the misinformation/Infodemic of COVID-19 on Social Media platforms.</p> <p><b>Research Methodology</b>: In this quantitative study an online survey was conducted among lawyers in Pakistan. The population of the study was made up of practicing lawyers from different District Bar Associations in Pakistan. A questionnaire was distributed to collect data regarding demographic information, use of social media, response to misinformation about COVID-19 on social media and to identify the methods employed by lawyers to check the authenticity of such information. Collected data were first analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V 23) and then presented in frequency, mean, percentage, and standard deviation.</p> <p><b>Findings</b>: The study revealed that the majority of lawyers use social media platforms. It shows that the most popular social media platforms among the lawyers are Facebook and WhatsApp. The outcome shows that lawyers encounter fake stories about COVID-19. Critical thinking, comparison, and cross-checking are among the most commonly used techniques employed by the lawyers to check the authenticity of any information about the COVID-19 on social media. It also revealed that most of the time they share such news after checking its authenticity but sometimes they share it without confirming it.</p>

Information disruptions and disruptive information sources in the practice of law: Obstacles in gathering information, through an Israeli lens

“…To address these challenges, some lawyers tend to compare and cross-check their memorized knowledge with extrinsic information in a written format or opt to take another way to obtain the required information, depending on the circumstances of the case. Like Jamshed (2021), future research may delve deeper into the prevalence of this type of disruption and map the self-techniques used to mitigate it. Training in extracting information from memory, accompanied by legal tasks that entail the wise and appropriate use of the recalled information, should be integrated into the curricula of law schools as a preparative for actual lawyering by emphasizing the challenges, as well as the professional risks, affixed to it.…”

“…a new caselaw) that contradicts an argument claimed on behalf of a client (Solomon and Bronstein, 2016). Thus, even information discoveries do not rise above information disruption (see also: Jamshed, 2021; Solomon and Bronstein, 2018—“disruptive discoveries”).…”

Exploring Indonesia government outbreak response: Misinformation of public officials in handling of Covid-19 Pandemic

“…People are turning to the internet rather than printed sources for health information [7]. Despite the fact that misleading information regarding COVID-19 is more harmful and deadly to people than any other type of malicious misinformation because it causes fear and compels people to make poor health decisions, the infodemic [8], [9], [10].…”

Antecedents and Consequences of Misinformation Sharing Behavior among Adults on Social Media during COVID-19

“…. (2021),Adnan et al (2021),,Apuke and Omar (2021),Bapaye and Bapaye (2021),Cha et al (2021),Erinoso et al (2021),Guelmami et al (2021),Jamsheed (2021),Osuagwu et al (2021), Pickles et al (2021,Su (2021),Vijaykumar et al (2021),Ali et al (2020),Apuke and Omar (2020),Barua et al (2020),Datta et al (2020), Khalifa et al (2020), Laato et al (2020), Lee et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020) Sex Education Marital status Guelmami et al (2021), Osuagwu et al (2021), Ali et al (2020), Lee et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020); Health status Cha et al (2021), Guelmami et al (2021), Islam et al (2020) Occupation Adekoya et al (2021), Adnan et al (2021), Agley et al (2021), Apuke and Omar (2021), Bapaye and Bapaye (2021), Cha et al (2021), Erinoso et al (2021), Guelmami et al (2021), Jamsheed (2021), Osuagwu et al (2021), Pickles et al (2021), Su (2021), Vijaykumar et al (2021), Ali et al (2020), Apuke and Omar (2020), Barua et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020) Financial factors Financial status Cha et al (2021), Erinoso et al (2021); Osuagwu et al (2021), Su (2021), Vijaykumar et al (2021), Ali et al (2020), Apuke and Omar (2020), Barua et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020) Political factors Pickles et al (2021), Ali et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Political orientation & interest Agley et al (2021), Freiling et al (2021); Su (2021), Ali et al (2020), Lobato et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Religious factors Cultural and Religious beliefs Agley et al (2021), Osuagwu et al (2021), Ali et al (2020), Islam et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020) Conspiracy ideation Conspiracy ideation Islam et al (2020), Ferna ´ndez-Torres et al (2021) Believe in premature &unconfirmed remedies for treatment Bapaye and Bapaye (2021), Lobato et al (2020)…”

“…. (2020), Islam et al (2020);Apuke and Omar (2020), Khalifa et al (2020) Perceive to be helpful Islam et al (2020), Khalifa et al (2020) Trust Low trust in science Agley et al (2021), Pickles et al (2021); Lobato et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Online information trust Laato et al (2020), Lee et al (2020) Perceived accuracy of information Su (2021), Lee et al (2020) Anxiety Anxiety Osuagwu et al (2021), Pickles et al (2021), Freiling et al (2021), Guelmami et al (2021), Su (2021), Datta et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020) Fear Pickles et al (2021), Freiling et al (2021), Guelmami et al (2021), Su (2021), Datta et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Perceived susceptibility Laato et al (2020), Lee et al (2020), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Perceived severity Laato et al (2020), Lee et al (2020) COVID-19 risk perception Freiling et al (2021), Guelmami et al (2021); Su (2021), Datta et al (2020), Kebede et al (2020);Roozenbeek et al (2020), Osuagwu et al (2021) Self-efficacy Self-using social media Jamsheed (2021), Pickles et al (2021), Khalifa et al (2020) digital health literacy Guelmami et al (2021), Islam et al (2020); Jamsheed (2021), Khalifa et al (2020), Pickles et al (2021), Roozenbeek et al (2020) Altruism Altruistic motivation & pro-social behavior Adnan et al (2021), Apuke and Omar (2021), Ferna ´ndez-Torres et al (2021) Deficient self-regulation Deficient self-regulation Islam et al (2020) Internet addiction Guelmami et al (2021); Apuke and Omar (2020), Islam et al (2020) SNS dependency Su (2021), Islam et al (2020) SNS frequency Adekoya et al (2021), Bapaye and Bapaye (2021), Guelmami et al (2021),Jamsheed (2021),Su (2021),Apuke and Omar (2020),Barua et al (2020),Datta et al (2020), Khalifa et al (2020 …”