Why did people avoid information during the COVID-19 pandemic? Understanding information sources' dynamics among Pakistani Z generation

Abstract

PurposeGrounded in the stressor-strain-outcome model, this study aims to examine the impact of different information sources on information behavior among the Pakistani Z generation during the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study was quantitative, with 344 responses collected from Gen Z (those born in the late 1990s) using an online survey. The proposed structural model was tested with the help of SmartPLS 3.3. Information sources were divided into four categories, i.e. conventional media, personal networks, social media and Internet use through official health websites.FindingsIn the Pakistani context, conventional media was found to develop information overload among Zers, whereas social media and personal networks were positively associated with information anxiety. However, Internet use (official and medical websites) for health-related information-seeking significantly reduced information anxiety among people. None of these information sources are the reason for information avoidance but the sources affect either the independent predictor of information avoidance or the mediators. Whereas information overload is a predictor of information anxiety and information, anxiety is a mediator between information overload and avoidance behavior.Research limitations/implicationsTo avoid the negative consequences of abundant information, the authors need to promote and encourage the use of authentic information sources to make Gen Z skeptical, independent, critical and scientific thinkers.Originality/valueInformation sources' dynamics in terms of negative consequences of abundant information has not been explored previously at this magnitude, particularly from the perspective of a developing country.

Guest editorial: COVID-19 pandemic and health informatics part 3

“…Nabi et al (2023) reported their finding from data collected in Bangladesh, which showed how to use social capital to establish trust between people and healthcare facilities through social media. Soroya and Faiola (2023) also studied the impact of information sources on the information-seeking behavior of the Pakistani Z generation and showed that they felt information from conventional media caused them information overload and information from social media and personal networks caused them information anxiety. Lastly, Yi and Chiu (2023) conducted a qualitative study to summarize public information needs in mainland China during the pandemic.…”

Editorial: Advances in information and knowledge management

“…People have changed their information habits to digital, particularly for the newer generation (Cheung et al ., 2023; Dai and Chiu, 2023; Guo et al ., 2022; Nguyen and Le, 2021; Leung et al ., 2022; Li et al ., 2021; Lu et al ., 2023; Soroya and Faiola, 2023; Sung and Chiu, 2022; Yi and Chiu, 2023; Yu et al ., 2022; Wong and Chiu, 2023c; Wong et al ., 2023b; Wu and Zhang, 2022). Further, digitalization technology enables libraries and scholars to share links and content on social media to attract users (Banshal et al ., 2022; Lo et al ., 2019; Ocran and Afful-Arthur, 2022; Pianzola et al ., 2022; Yang et al ., 2020; Wu et al ., 2022a; Wu, 2022; Xu and Du, 2022).…”

Editorial: Special selections on contemporary social media and social network research

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has seriously affected many cultural organizations, including educational institutions, libraries and museums (Fasae et al , 2021; Huang et al , 2021, 2022; 2023; Guo et al , 2021; Meng et al , 2023; Yu et al , 2023), though we are now ready for reopening (Abbass et al , 2022; Suh and Alhaery, 2022; Kumar et al , 2021). Wide-spread and high-quality online information services have provided alternative sources during the lockdown (Ding et al , 2021; Hsieh et al , 2023; Lo and Chiu, 2015; Lo et al , 2015, 2017; Suen et al , 2020; Dong et al , 2021; Sun et al , 2022; Wang et al , 2016; Wong and Chiu, 2023; Fan and Liu, 2022; Zuo et al , 2023; Cheng et al , 2022; Cheng, 2022; Wang et al , 2022; Wong et al , 2023) and people have further changed their information and learning habits to digital, particularly for the newer generation (Chan et al , 2022; Chan et al , 2020; Dai and Chiu, 2023; Guo et al , 2022; Shahzad and Khan, 2022; Soroya and Faiola, 2023; Sung and Chiu, 2022; Yi and Chiu, 2023; Wai et al , 2018; Wong and Chiu, 2023; Yu et al , 2022; Zhang et al , 2021). Moreover, the pandemic has accelerated service transformation (Chan et al , 2022; Cheng et al , 2022; Chin and Chiu, 2023; Khan and Ayesha, 2022; Khan et al , 2022; Li et al , 2023; Li et al , 2023; Lin et al , 2022; Lo et al ., 2020; Noh, 2022; Nwagwu and Matobako, 2022; Tseng and Chiu, 2022; Tse et al , 2022; Yao et al , 2023; Wong and Chiu, 2023; Wu et al , 2022b, 2023; Xue et al , 2023), especially supported by ubiquitous mobile Internet services, social media, apps and devices (Dukic et al , 2015; Ezeamuzie et al , 2022; Fan et al , 2020; Fung et al , 2016; Gong et al , 2017; Hui et al , 2023;…”