Y. Ariel, Vered Elishar-Malka, Shuo Seah, D. Weimann-Saks, G. Weimann
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引用次数: 3
Abstract
COVID-19 ushered in almost unprecedented socioeconomic and political challenges. A typical social reaction during such emergencies is rumormongering, which has intensified since the advent of social media. This study explored factors affecting users’ willingness to spread pandemic-related rumors in Wuhan, China and Israel. We tested a multi-variant model of factors affecting the forwarding of COVID-19 rumors. In an online survey conducted in April–May 2020, users of each country's leading social media platform (WeChat and WhatsApp, respectively) reported on patterns of exposure to and spread of COVID-19 rumors, as well as on their motives for doing so. Despite major differences between the two societies, interesting similarities were found: in both cases, individual drives, shaped by personal needs and degree of negative feelings, were the leading factors behind rumormongering. Exposure to additional sources of information regarding the rumors was also a significant predictor, but only in the Chinese case.
期刊介绍：
International Communication Gazette is a major international, peer-reviewed journal. It aims to contribute to a fuller knowledge and understanding of: -the structures and processes of international communication -the regulatory regimes in the field of international communication -the interaction between international and national flows of communication -the complexities of intercultural communication across national borders The International Communication Gazette seeks contributions that are international comparative in scope. The journal aims, wherever possible, to publish work by authors with an international reputation and contributions that are of interest to international audiences. The journal: -invites contributions that focus on international issues in the field of communication studies -seeks contributions comparing two or more countries or regions and only accept contributions on national issues in case the global significance of such issues is paramount -draws on high quality work from the international community of communication researchers -encourages innovative approaches to theoretical and methodological developments in the communications field -ensures that articles are written in transparent terminology and lucid style to render them accessible across the borders of specific disciplines
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