Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social media

Social media became increasingly active as a platform for interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with the onset of social distancing. According to a study conducted by Facebook's analytics department, messaging rates rose by over 50% during this period. Individuals confined to their homes utilized social media not only to maintain social connections but also as a source of entertainment to alleviate boredom.[1]

Despite its widespread use, concerns arose regarding the overreliance on social media for primary social interactions, particularly given the constraints imposed by the pandemic.[2][3]

The global population, including celebrities, world leaders, and professionals, turned to social networking services to disseminate information, find humor through internet memes, and cope with the challenges of social distancing.[4][5] However, the shift to virtual interactions exacerbated mental health issues fo many,[1] prompting the rapid rise of online counselling that leveraged social media platforms to connect mental health workers with those in need.[6]

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the phenomenon of misinformation on social media, often referred to as an "infodemic." Platforms like Twitter and YouTube provided direct access to content, making users susceptible to rumors and unreliable information that could significantly impact individual behaviors and undermine collective efforts against the virus.[7] Furthermore, social media became crucial for politicians, political movements, and health organizations at various levels to disseminate critical information swiftly and effectively reach the public.

Increase in usage

edit

Messaging and video call services

edit

Multiple social media websites reported a sharp increase in usage after social distancing measures were put into place. Since many people could not connect with their friends and family in person, social media became the main form of communication to maintain these connections. For example, Facebook's analytics department reported a over 50% increase in overall messaging during the last month of March 2020.[1] WhatsApp also reported a 40% percent increase in usage.[1] Moreover, there was a noticeable increase in the use of Zoom since the start of the pandemic.[8] Global downloads for TikTok went up 5% in March 2020 compared to February.[9] A new service called Quarantine Chat, which connected users randomly, reported having over 15,000 users a month after its launch on 1 March 2020.[10] Zoom also followed a similar procedure to connect users.[citation needed]

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have all increased reliance on spam filters because staff members who moderate content were unable to work.[11]

Online counseling services

edit

Particularly in countries where the virus had a greater impact, online mental health services received a surge in demand, as COVID-19 social distancing obstructed patients from meeting with therapists or psychologists in person. In China, medical staff used social media programs like WeChat, Weibo, and TikTok to roll out online mental health education programs.[12] In Canada, the provincial government of Alberta launched a $53 million COVID-19 mental health response plan, which included increasing accessibility to phone and online support with existing helplines.[13] Additionally, the Canadian province of Ontario's government provided emergency funding of up to $12 million to expand online and virtual mental health support.[14]

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health

edit

There is extensive psychology research proving that connectivity with others develops a sense of belonging and psychosocial well-being, which enhances mental health and reduces the risk of anxiety and depression.[15] The overload of information and the constant use of social media have been shown to positively correlate with an increase in depression and anxiety, yet also with improvement in communication skills.[16][17] The impact of following social distancing measures can cause feelings of loneliness and isolation in people, increasing anxiety and being overwhelming.[18] Many adults are also reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (60%) or eating (80%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (50%), and worsening chronic conditions (35%), due to worry and stress over education and employment conditions.[19] While being part of a global pandemic can be stressful and cause anxiety, there are ways you can support yourself and your family.[20]

Given that the virus continues to spread around the world, especially in the US and Europe, affecting millions of people, it is necessary to assess and develop strategies to address mental health and mental disorders caused by direct or indirect exposure to this situation. These strategies are specifically targeted at individuals with mental health issues due to actions taken by the government against the outbreak of the coronavirus, viral infection, and infection. In general, targeting the entire population or large communities is not beneficial.[21]

Effect of COVID-19 on face-to-face communication

edit

Due to the global pandemic, people have experienced negative effects on their interpersonal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the use of face masks, social distancing, and self-isolation in the real world. Nonverbal communication, such as facial gestures and expressions, accounts for 55% of our overall communication.[22] The increased use of face masks makes interpretation during face-to-face communication much more challenging because masks hide a large portion of the face, posing difficulties in reading basic communication signals like intention and emotion. Wearing a face mask causes individuals to focus on oral cues, leading to potential mistrust, misinterpretation, linguistic misunderstandings, and difficulties in comprehension. Alongside the disconnection caused by face masks, social distancing, and self-isolation, there are risks of increased social rejection, growing impersonality, individualism, and a loss of community.[23] Data suggests that the implementation of face masks, increased social distancing, and self-isolation present challenges in fostering positive interpersonal relationships and a sense of community.[24]

The new COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic has significantly affected the way people communicate with each other. Preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus require changes in communication patterns regarding greetings and handshakes. This situation has prompted people to adopt greetings that do not require physical contact, such as "peaceful gestures" and "hands on the chest". Additionally, telecommunications has seen a notable emphasis on personal space and social distance as business meetings, conferences, and educational activities shift to virtual communication through platforms like Zoom, Cisco WebEx, Skype, and Microsoft Teams.[24]

Effect of COVID-19 on online businesses

edit

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to shut down or implement remote work, leading to significant layoffs. Families were confined to home in self-isolation and quarantine as effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic, many businesses have experienced a drastic increase in online orders. Those facing declining sales had to adapt to new consumer spending habits.[25]

Effects of COVID-19 on visual arts

edit

Global shutdowns compelled artists, museums, and galleries to explore new ways to engage with the public. The Getty Museum initiated a social media challenge encouraging users to recreate artworks from their collection using household items and share the results online.[26] Galleries like David Zwirner moved scheduled exhibits to virtual spaces.[27] Artist Benjamin Cook's Social Distance Gallery used Instagram to host mini thesis exhibitions for students worldwide who had their graduation shows canceled.[28]

Increased engagement

edit

A study of people's internet and social media engagement from July 2019 to 2020 indicated a 10.5% increase in active social media users.[29] Instagram reported a 70% surge in viewership of live videos from February to March when lockdown measures began.[30] Another study conducted in July, four months after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, surveyed individuals on their primary reasons for using social media and other connectivity technologies. Eighty-three percent of respondents stated that social media helped them cope with COVID-19-related lockdowns.[29] This response was the highest, surpassing other reasons such as education (76%), staying in touch with friends and family (74%), and work-related activities (67%). It underscores the crucial role of social media in people's lives during the pandemic.[citation needed]

Due to the pandemic, people reduced their social activities to safeguard others. Students transitioned to online learning, with many relying on social media as a new study tool. Researchers have identified both advantages and disadvantages of using social media for studying. UNESCO reported that school closures affecting 890 million students across 114 countries disrupted traditional education.[31] Social media became indispensable for students during the pandemic, providing an effective means to collaborate and develop skills while at home. For instance, collaborating with peers on social media enables students to learn communication and teamwork skills as they work together to solve problems.[31]

Use as entertainment

edit

During the pandemic, numerous Internet memes emerged related to the COVID-19 situation.[32][33][34] One notably popular Facebook group among young people, predominantly Generation Z, was "Zoom Memes for Self Quaranteens." This group humorously played on the pun of increased Zoom usage and self-quarantine among teenagers, amassing over 500,000 members as of April 2020.[35] Members shared and created memes about the pandemic, providing entertainment for many young people who had transitioned to online schooling and needed ways to pass the time and cope with the situation.[36]

Various social media challenges also gained traction during this period, serving to connect individuals and provide entertainment. One such example was the See10Do10 challenge, where participants performed and recreated 10 push-ups. Other challenges included sharing baby photos, participating in dance challenges, and voting in candy and chocolate March Madness bracket polls.[37] Additionally, the V-pop hit "Ghen" by artists Erik and Men was remixed by lyricists Khắc Hưng to create "Ghen Cô Vy," which supported Vietnam's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health with a song encouraging handwashing.[38] The song went viral after dancer Quang Đăng posted a dance to it on TikTok, sparking the #GhenCoVyChallenge.[39] Teens also used TikTok to create videos sharing their experiences in quarantine, using humor to relate to their peers and keep themselves entertained. From January to March 2020, TikTok experienced a 48.3% increase in unique visitors.[40] Makeup artists on YouTube adapted their content to showcase makeup looks that accommodate mask-wearing during the pandemic.[41]

In April, The Actors Fund organized a charity livestream of The Phantom of the Opera performance from London's Royal Albert Hall, which raised funds over 48 hours.[42] Similarly,P hoebe Waller-Bridges's stage performance of Fleabag was streamed for charity and entertainment purposes[43] Authors, musicians, actors, actresses, and dancers collaborated on numerous concerts, live streams of past productions, readings, and performances that were either free or required an entrance fee or suggested charitable donation.[44][45]

Spreading information

edit

Social media has been used by news outlets, organizations, and the general public to disseminate both accurate information and misinformation about the pandemic.[46][47] The CDC, WHO, medical journals, and healthcare organizations have been actively updating and sharing information across various platforms, often partnering with Facebook, Google Scholar, TikTok,[48] and Twitter. Additionally, frontline healthcare professionals, such as emergency medicine physicians in New York hospitals, have utilized their social media accounts to provide firsthand accounts of combating COVID-19.[37] A social listening study conducted from January 1 to March 19 indicated a significant increase in COVID-19-related conversations, with a 1,000% rise among healthcare professionals and a 2,500% increase among consumers.[49] Despite hypotheses that increased public discourse and research would enhance trust in science during the pandemic, early studies reported null findings.[50]

Accurate and reliable information disseminated through social media platforms plays a crucial role in combatting infodemics, misinformation, and rumors related to COVID-19. Real-time surveillance via social media can also serve as a valuable tool for public health agencies and organizations in implementing effective interventions.[51]

Medical professionals have formed groups on social media to share information and insights on treating COVID-19.[52] For instance, the PMG COVID-19 Subgroup on Facebook had approximately 30,000 members globally by the end of March, while the Physician Moms Group, established five years prior to the pandemic, experienced such high demand that Facebook's join feature temporarily malfunctioned.[53]

Moreover, healthcare workers have used social media to educate the public about the challenges of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for extended shifts. Many participated in trends showcasing their faces post-shift, revealing marks and injuries caused by prolonged mask use.[54] platforms have also hosted audio and video diaries documenting personal experiences during the pandemic, such as the podcast "Coronavirus Today" and the video series "A Doctor in The Pandemic."[55]

Government use of social media

Governments have utilized social media extensively during the pandemic. The Chinese government, for example, has employed social media to disseminate scientific information about COVID-19 in accessible language to aid public understanding. In contrast, Australian health authorities have focused less on platforms popular among younger demographics, such as Instagram and TikTok, when sharing COVID-19 information.[56] esearchers argue that effective governmental use of social media can mitigate public panic and contribute to societal stability. Governments should take proactive measures to communicate effectively on social media using language that resonates with the public, thereby reducing the spread of misinformation and fostering social stability based on evidence-backed information.[57]

Impact on public awareness

According to the National Library of Medicine, social media has predominantly had a positive impact during the pandemic by increasing awareness of new regulations, information, and safety guidelines. This widespread usage has facilitated health promotion across the internet, enabling ordinary individuals to share their pandemic experiences and strategies for coping. Platforms like Instagram stories have played a crucial role in connecting people and disseminating guidelines from credible sources quickly.[citation needed]

Fighting an Infodemic

edit

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly amplified the World Health Organizations (WHO) utilization of social media. In response to the declaration of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency, the WHO Information Network for Epidemics was established. This platform, staffed by 20 individuals, is dedicated to providing evidence-based responses to counteract rumors circulating across various social media platforms. It ensures that searches related to "coronavirus" on social media and Google direct users to reliable information sources such as the WHO website or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[58]

On 18 January 2021, the UK Parliament's Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee convened to address misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic disseminated through social networking and internet media platforms. The session included panels of behavioral science experts and media representatives from major organizations, including Facebook, Sky News, and Reuters.[59]

In April 2020, the United Nations launched the United Nations Communications Response initiative aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation during the pandemic. This initiative sought to mitigate hate speech and prevent disinformation from exacerbating political divisions online. Additionally, on 11 May 2020, the United Nations issued a Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19-related Hate Speech, further targeting misinformation challenges online.[60]

Also in May 2020, WHO Member States passed Resolution WHA73.1, urging countries to actively publish informative content about the pandemic and combat misinformation that could impede effective responses to the virus. The resolution also addressed international organizations, emphasizing the WHO's commitment to leveraging technology to combat misinformation and disseminate peer-reviewed, scientifically backed data globally to inform the public.[60]

Limitations in the use of social media to spread information

edit

While social media has proven advantageous in disseminating credible information, it is important to acknowledge its inherent limitations.

Social media platforms do not uniformly impact all demographics. Older age groups often do not utilize social media as extensively as younger populations, preferring traditional communication channels.[61] Approximately 69% of individuals aged 50 to 64 engage with some form of social media, highlighting the necessity to devise alternative methods to reach the remaining 31% of this demographic.[62]

Moreover, social media lacks scientific oversight. Unlike peer-reviewed publications, there is no mandatory peer review process for content posted online, contributing to the proliferation of misinformation.[61] Although social media platforms employ fact-checking teams, it remains impractical to manually verify every piece of content posted across these platforms.[63]

Misinformation

edit

The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized as the first major "social-media infodemic" by MIT Technology Review, highlighting social media's pivotal role as the primary source of information and communication during this period.[64][65] National Geographic reported a surge in "fake animal news" circulated on social media platforms during the pandemic.[66]Research indicates a significant shift in information consumption patterns, with many individuals increasingly relying on social media over traditional search engines and browsers, thereby influencing behaviors and potentially undermining government response efforts to the virus.[67]

There is preliminary evidence suggesting that public trust in science and scientists may influence the perceived credibility of COVID-19 misinformation. However, caution is advised in interpreting these findings pending further study.[68]

Social media platforms, including Twitter, have become crucial channels for news updates, although concerns persist regarding the proliferation of misinformation disseminated through automated “bot” accounts. The challenge of distinguishing reliable information sources from misinformation has contributed to varying levels of skepticism and distrust among users.[citation needed]

Misinformation varies widely across countries and can be disseminated intentionally or inadvertently, exacerbating the severity of the pandemic.[69] [70]

The algorithms behind some social platforms may have inadvertently facilitated the spread of misinformation. This was due to increased AI usage when many human moderators were unable to work remotely during shelter in place orders or faced contractual restrictions, which compromised their ability to effectively manage content and prevent the dissemination of COVID-19 misinformation.[71] [72]

Fox News reported instances where social media groups spread rumors opposing vaccines and campaigning against 5G mobile phone networks. For example, the Stop 5G French group on Facebook shared an article from BBC News claiming, "It is becoming pretty clear that the Hunan coronavirus is an engineered bio-weapon that was either purposely or accidentally released."[73] These online rumors led to mob attacks in India, mass poisonings in Iran, and vandalism of phone masts in the United Kingdom.[74]

Social media has become a primary source of misinformation during the pandemic. In China, misinformation spread through platforms like Messenger included false reports that fireworks could kill the virus in the air, and that vinegar and indigowoad root could cure infections. This misinformation resulted in panic-buying of supplies, depleting resources needed by professionals.[75] Additionally, outdated claims, such as the reported benefits of Hydroxychloroquine, continued to circulate despite WHO ending trials due to safety concerns, potentially risking patient safety.[74]

Misinformation and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 have been flagged, removed, or restricted by Facebook and Instagram on their respective social media platforms.[76] For instance, Facebook has taken measures to curb false claims about cures and prevention methods.[76] However, the efficacy of Facebook's third-party fact-checkers in limiting the spread of false content by notifying and providing accurate information to users remains varied.[76]

A study conducted in May 2021 identified that a small number of individuals were responsible for a significant portion (85%) of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation circulating on social media, prompting actions such as content blocking for some of these prolific disseminators, colloquially known as the "Disinformation Dozen."[77]

Interestingly, older adults are often exposed to misinformation on social media platforms. Research by the WHO indicates that over half (59.1%) of those surveyed are aware of and can recognize COVID-19-related fake news.[78] Consequently, misinformation significantly impacts young people as well, with 60.1% reportedly disregarding false information encountered on social media.[78] Addressing this challenge not only involves helping individuals identify misinformation but also mobilizing efforts to actively counter and mitigate its effects.

Usage by celebrities

edit

Throughout the pandemic, many celebrities utilized social media platforms to engage with their fan bases and address the challenging circumstances through various means, including posts, acts of kindness, or participation in trends. Some celebrities faced swift public criticism for their posts, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, who deleted an Instagram post showcasing designer fashion, and Jared Leto, who sparked controversy with a Twitter post emerging 12-day silent meditation isolation in the desert.[79] Similarly, Ellen DeGeneres and Gal Gadot received backlash for their social media activities, with DeGeneres criticized for comments about quarantine life in her California mansion, and Gadot for organizing a celebrity rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine."[80]

Several celebrities or their family members also used social media to announce their positive COVID-19 diagnoses, including Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Idris Elba, and Daniel Dae Kim[80] used his platform to highlight donating plasma containing active antibodies to a Vitalant blood donation center, potentially aiding others affected by the virus.[81] Notably, a controversial Instagram post by K-Pop Star Kim Jae-joong, claiming a COVID-19 hospitalization later revealed as an April Fools' Day Prank, aimed to raise awareness about the pandemic.[82]

Moreover, celebrities leveraged social media to promote charitable action during the pandemic. For instance, Ansel Elgort used his Instagram platform creatively, drawing attention to a GoFundMe campaign by actor Jeffrey Wright aimed at feeding frontline workers, albeit initially raising eyebrows with a provocative post captioned "OnlyFans LINK IN BIO."[83]

Usage by world leaders

edit

On 7 April 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump utilized Twitter and the #AmericaWorksTogether hashtag to highlight companies aiding in mitigating the economic impacts of the virus by hiring employees and supplying health workers with necessary equipment.[84]

Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British royal family have also used social media to communicate with the public. Comments from the Queen were shared on the royal family's Instagram account, and in the lead-up to V-E Day, information based on the Queen's memories from a 1985 interview was posted on Instagram.[85] Several royal family members participated in Zoom calls with nurses to commemorate International Nurses Day, which subsequently posted on their YouTube page.[86] Prince William and Catherine Middleton allowed their Instagram account to be "taken over" for 24-hours by Shout85258, the UK's first 24/7 crisis text line they launched with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2019.[87] The Dutch royal family used their Instagram account to share a video of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and their teenage daughters clapping for first responders, accompanied by a brief speech by the King.[88]

Censorship

edit

In Turkey, more than 400 individuals were arrested for posting "provocative" messages about the pandemic on social media.[89] Chinese social media networks, such as WeChat have reportedly censored terms related to the pandemic since 31 December 2019. Notably, Dr. Li Wenliang was censored by the Wuhan police for posting about the pandemic in a private group chat.[90] Doctors in China were instructed by local authorities to delete social media posts appealing for donations of medical supplies.[91]

NetBlocks, a civil society group advocating for digital rights, cybersecurity, and Internet governance, reported internet outages in Wuhan during the pandemic. They also noted that the Farsi version of Wikipedia was blocked for 24 hours in Iran. The VPN company Surfshark reported a roughly 50% drop-off in its network usage in Iran after the pandemic was declared on 13 March by the WHO.[90]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "COVID-19: Social media use goes up as country stays indoors". Victoria News. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. ^ Department of Psychology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea, Lim YJ (5 September 2023). "Social Media Use Motives as Mediators of the Link Between Covert Narcissism and Problematic Social Media Use". Alpha Psychiatry. 24 (4): 161–166. doi:10.5152/alphapsychiatry.2023.231162. PMC 10646799. PMID 38028729. S2CID 261576074. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Theocharis Y, Cardenal A, Jin S, Aalberg T, Hopmann DN, Strömbäck J, Castro L, Esser F, Van Aelst P, de Vreese C, Corbu N, Koc-Michalska K, Matthes J, Schemer C, Sheafer T (December 2023). "Does the platform matter? Social media and COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs in 17 countries". New Media & Society. 25 (12): 3412–3437. doi:10.1177/14614448211045666. hdl:10230/59678. ISSN 1461-4448.
  4. ^ "Facebook struggles with high traffic as world sits at home and takes to social media because of Covid-19". www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  5. ^ Okwodu J (25 March 2020). ""We Need Joy to Survive": Naomi Shimada on How to Mindfully Use Social Media in the Age of Social Distancing". Vogue. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  6. ^ Gowan R (9 April 2020). "WES for Youth Online sees surge in counselling service use". Owen Sound Sun Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ Cinelli M, Quattrociocchi W, Galeazzi A, Valensise CM, Brugnoli E, Schmidt AL, Zola P, Zollo F, Scala A (December 2020). "The COVID-19 Social Media Infodemic". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 16598. arXiv:2003.05004. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73510-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7538912. PMID 33024152.
  8. ^ Bursztynsky J (14 April 2020). "Zoom's massive surge in new users is increasing costs, but the focus is on keeping video calls reliable". CNBC. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. ^ Stassen M (24 March 2020). "Coronavirus quarantine appears to be driving a global TikTok download boom". Music Business Worldwide. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  10. ^ Lockwood D (27 May 2020). "QuarantineChat Brings Back Spontaneity (and Distraction)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Coronavirus Disrupts Social Media's First Line of Defense". Wired. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via www.wired.com.
  12. ^ Liu S, Yang L, Zhang C, Xiang YT, Liu Z, Hu S, Zhang B (April 2020). "Online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 outbreak". The Lancet Psychiatry. 7 (4): e17–e18. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30077-8. PMC 7129099. PMID 32085841.
  13. ^ Brown C. "Alberta launches $53M COVID-19 mental health response plan". CHAT News Today. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Ontario Increasing Mental Health Support During COVID-19". news.ontario.ca. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  15. ^ Allen KA, Ryan T, Gray DL, McInerney DM, Waters L (July 2014). "Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescents: The Positives and the Potential Pitfalls". The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist. 31 (1): 18–31. doi:10.1017/edp.2014.2. ISSN 0816-5122. S2CID 145458351. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  16. ^ Gao J, Zheng P, Jia Y, Chen H, Mao Y, Chen S, Wang Y, Fu H, Dai J (16 April 2020). "Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak". PLOS ONE. 15 (4): e0231924. Bibcode:2020PLoSO..1531924G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231924. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 7162477. PMID 32298385.
  17. ^ Aristovnik A, Keržič D, Ravšelj D, Tomaževič N, Umek L (October 2020). "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective". Sustainability. 12 (20): 8438. doi:10.3390/su12208438.
  18. ^ CDC (11 February 2020). "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  19. ^ Panchal N, Kamal R, Orgera K, Cox C, Garfield R, Hamel L, Muñana C, Chidambaram P (21 August 2020). "The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use". KFF. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  20. ^ Defence N (9 April 2020). "Defence Team Mental Health and Coping during COVID-19". aem. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  21. ^ Khan S, Siddique R, Li H, Ali A, Shereen MA, Bashir N, Xue M (2020). "Impact of coronavirus outbreak on psychological health". Journal of Global Health. 10 (1): 010331. doi:10.7189/jogh.10.010331. ISSN 2047-2978. PMC 7180007. PMID 32355556.
  22. ^ Mheidly N, Fares MY, Zalzale H, Fares J (2020). "Effect of Face Masks on Interpersonal Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic". Frontiers in Public Health. 8: 898. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191. ISSN 2296-2565. PMC 7755855. PMID 33363081. Interpersonal communication has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks, are essential to mitigate efforts against the virus, but pose challenges on daily face-to-face communication.
  23. ^ Sikali K (16 August 2020). "The dangers of social distancing: How COVID-19 can reshape our social experience". Journal of Community Psychology. 48 (8): 2435–2438. doi:10.1002/jcop.22430. ISSN 0090-4392. PMC 7461541. PMID 32880991.
  24. ^ a b Mheidly N, Fares MY, Zalzale H, Fares J (2020). "Effect of Face Masks on Interpersonal Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic". Frontiers in Public Health. 8: 582191. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191. ISSN 2296-2565. PMC 7755855. PMID 33363081.
  25. ^ Grimmer L (September 2022). "Lessons from the COVID19 pandemic: The case of retail and consumer service firms". Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. 68: 103012. doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103012. ISSN 0969-6989. PMC 9042175.
  26. ^ "People Are Recreating Iconic Works of Art With Objects Found at Home During Self-Quarantine". My Modern Met. 24 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  27. ^ Pogrebin R (27 March 2020). "In Time of Quarantine, Zwirner Shares Online Platform With Smaller Galleries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  28. ^ Keats J. "As Art Fairs And Galleries Take Refuge Online To Elude COVID-19, Internet Art Is Emerging To Temper The Lockdown". Forbes. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Digital 2020: July Global Statshot". DataReportal – Global Digital Insights. 21 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Doing More to Support Creators on Instagram | Instagram Blog". about.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  31. ^ a b Khan MN, Ashraf MA, Seinen D, Khan KU, Laar RA (2021). "Social Media for Knowledge Acquisition and Dissemination: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Collaborative Learning Driven Social Media Adoption". Frontiers in Psychology. 12: 648253. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648253. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 8200539. PMID 34135814.
  32. ^ Nicholson T (19 March 2020). "These Coronavirus Memes Will Make Life Feel A Little Bit Better". Esquire. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  33. ^ Joyce J (20 March 2020). "19 COVID-19 memes to get you through the weekend". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Memes, jokes on social media after PM Modi announces 'Janata Curfew' to slow Covid-19 spread". 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Zoom Memes for Self Quaranteens". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Humor in the face of coronavirus". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  37. ^ a b Iwai Y. "Harnessing Social Media for the COVID-19 Pandemic". Scientific American Blog Network. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Coronavirus PSA From Vietnam Sparks a TikTok Dance Challenge: 10 of the Best Videos". Billboard. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Coronavirus: The TikTok hand-washing dance challenge - CBBC Newsround". Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  40. ^ "US Consumers Are Flocking to TikTok". Insider Intelligence. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  41. ^ Judkis M (19 May 2020). "Masks are changing the way we look at each other, and ourselves". Alton Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  42. ^ Kiefer H (18 April 2020). "Not Only Should You Stream The Phantom of the Opera This Weekend, You Have To". Vulture. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  43. ^ White P (24 April 2020). "'Fleabag': Live Performance Of Phoebe Waller-Bridge Comedy For COVID-19 Charities Extended Through May; Amazon & Soho Theatre Among Streamers – Update". Deadline. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  44. ^ Cooper M (9 May 2020). "Hershey Felder salutes Irving Berlin, plus 13 other must-sees on Mother's Day weekend". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  45. ^ Feldman A (9 May 2020). "The best theater to stream online today (May 9 and 10)". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  46. ^ Llewellyn S (25 March 2020). "Covid-19: how to be careful with trust and expertise on social media". BMJ. 368: m1160. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1160. PMID 32213480. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2020 – via www.bmj.com.
  47. ^ Zarocostas J (29 February 2020). "How to fight an infodemic". The Lancet. 395 (10225): 676. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30461-X. ISSN 0140-6736. PMC 7133615. PMID 32113495.
  48. ^ Kelly M (28 February 2020). "The World Health Organization has joined TikTok to fight coronavirus misinformation". The Verge. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  49. ^ Syner Bulik B (8 April 2020). "Docs are talking about COVID-19 on social media—and pharma is looking for lessons". FiercePharma. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  50. ^ Agley J (2020). "Assessing changes in US public trust in science amid the COVID-19 pandemic". Public Health. 183: 122–125. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2020.05.004. PMC 7218345. PMID 32405095.
  51. ^ Tsao SF, Chen H, Tisseverasinghe T, Yang Y, Li L, Butt ZA (March 2021). "What social media told us in the time of COVID-19: a scoping review". The Lancet Digital Health. 3 (3): e175–e194. doi:10.1016/s2589-7500(20)30315-0. ISSN 2589-7500. PMC 7906737. PMID 33518503. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  52. ^ Berg S (28 February 2020). "Doctor uses reach of social media to ease COVID-19 pandemic fears". American Medical Association. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  53. ^ Smith M, Fay Cortez M (24 March 2020). "Doctors Turn to Social Media to Develop Covid-19 Treatments in Real Time". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  54. ^ Law T (22 March 2020). "Healthcare Workers Share Selfies of Exhausted Faces After Hard Days Treating COVID-19 Patients". Time. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  55. ^ "Dr. Brian McDonough - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  56. ^ Taba M, Ayre J, Freeman B, McCaffery K, Bonner C (26 April 2023). "COVID-19 messages targeting young people on social media: content analysis of Australian health authority posts". Health Promotion International. 38 (2). doi:10.1093/heapro/daad034. PMC 10132623. PMID 37099680. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  57. ^ Liu H (3 March 2022). "Official social media and its impact on public behavior during the first wave of COVID-19 in China". BMC Public Health. 22 (1): 428. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12803-y. ISSN 1471-2458. PMC 8893355. PMID 35241057.
  58. ^ Zarocostas J (29 February 2020). "How to fight an infodemic". The Lancet. 395 (10225): 676. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30461-X. ISSN 0140-6736. PMC 7133615. PMID 32113495.
  59. ^ "Facebook, Sky News and Reuters questioned on data transparency and accountability". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  60. ^ a b "Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: Promoting healthy behaviors and mitigating the harm from misinformation and disinformation". www.who.int. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  61. ^ a b Eghtesadi M, Florea A (1 June 2020). "Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and TikTok: a proposal for health authorities to integrate popular social media platforms in contingency planning amid a global pandemic outbreak". Canadian Journal of Public Health. 111 (3): 389–391. doi:10.17269/s41997-020-00343-0. ISSN 1920-7476. PMC 7282468. PMID 32519085. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  62. ^ "Social Media Fact Sheet". Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  63. ^ Balmau O, Guerraoui R, Kermarrec AM, Maurer A, Pavlovic M, Zwaenepoel W (29 August 2018). "Limiting the Spread of Fake News on Social Media Platforms by Evaluating Users' Trustworthiness". arXiv:1808.09922 [cs.SI].
  64. ^ Hao K. "The coronavirus is the first true social-media "infodemic"". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  65. ^ Donovan J. "Here's how social media can combat the coronavirus 'infodemic'". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  66. ^ "Fake animal news abounds on social media as coronavirus upends life". Animals. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
  67. ^ Cinelli M, Quattrociocchi W, Galeazzi A, Valensise CM, Brugnoli E, Schmidt AL, Zola P, Zollo F, Scala A (December 2020). "The COVID-19 Social Media Infodemic". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 16598. arXiv:2003.05004. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73510-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7538912. PMID 33024152. S2CID 212657717.
  68. ^ Agley J, Xiao Y (December 2021). "Misinformation about COVID-19: evidence for differential latent profiles and a strong association with trust in science". BMC Public Health. 21 (1): 89. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-10103-x. ISSN 1471-2458. PMC 7789893. PMID 33413219.
  69. ^ OSO (22 November 2018). Computational Propaganda: Political Parties, Politicians, and Political Manipulation on Social Media. Oxford Scholarship. ISBN 978-0-19-093409-5. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  70. ^ "From Biological Weapons to Miracle Drugs: Fake News about the Coronavirus Pandemic". inss.org.il. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  71. ^ Stokel-Walker C (20 March 2020). "As humans go home, Facebook and YouTube face a coronavirus crisis". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  72. ^ "How COVID-19 is intensifying content moderation's flaws · Global Voices Advocacy". Global Voices Advocacy. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  73. ^ Cellan-Jones R (26 February 2020). "Coronavirus: Fake news is spreading fast". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  74. ^ a b Spring M (27 May 2020). "The human cost of virus misinformation". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  75. ^ Wernau J (22 January 2020). "Virus Sparks Chinese Panic Buying, Travel Cancellations, and Social-Media Misinformation". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  76. ^ a b c Smith A (31 January 2020). "Facebook and Instagram to Limit Coronavirus Misinformation". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  77. ^ "Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows". NPR. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  78. ^ a b "Social media & COVID-19: A global study of digital crisis interaction among Gen Z and Millennials". www.who.int. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  79. ^ Brown J (1 April 2020). "Social media shaming is spiking during the coronavirus pandemic, for better or worse". The Colorado Sun. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  80. ^ a b Lawson R (1 April 2020). "There Is No Good Celebrity Content Right Now". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  81. ^ Schlepp T (24 April 2020). "LOST actor Daniel Dae Kim donates plasma after recovering from COVID-19". KEYT | KCOY. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  82. ^ Benjamin J (1 April 2020). "K-Pop Star Kim Jaejoong Says April Fools' Day Prank About COVID-19 Hospitalization Was To Raise Awareness". Forbes. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  83. ^ France LR. "Ansel Elgort's nude Instagram photo helped raise thousands for coronavirus relief". CNN. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  84. ^ Subramanian C. "Trump unveils social media hashtag to highlight Americans helping one another amid coronavirus". USA Today. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  85. ^ Vanderhoof E (5 May 2020). "How the Royal Family Is Stepping Up Its Social Media During Quarantine". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  86. ^ "The Queen and Cambridges feature in royal family Zoom call to thank nurses". Harper's BAZAAR. 12 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  87. ^ Smith O (16 May 2020). "Kate Middleton and Prince William stun Instagram followers with a royal family first". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  88. ^ Cichowski H (18 March 2020). "Dutch royal family sends special message to health care workers during coronavirus pandemic". ca.hellomagazine.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  89. ^ "Turkey rounds up hundreds for social media posts about coronavirus". Reuters. 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  90. ^ a b Huang R. "Internet Censorship During COVID-19 Is Threat To Cryptocurrencies And Liberty". Forbes. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  91. ^ McDonald J (7 February 2020). "Chinese 'hero' doctor dies, unleashing public fury at Beijing". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
edit