How Health-Related Misinformation Spreads Across the Internet

Evidence for the “Typhoon Eye” Effect

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22004539
AutoresLei Zheng (0000-0003-4015-0110, Fuzhou University), Jincheng Cai (Fuzhou University), Fang Wang (0000-0001-7353-9080, Zhejiang University of Technology), Chenhan Ruan (0000-0002-4023-3779, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Ming‐Xing Xu (0000-0001-8796-1151, Fujian University of Technology), Mingxing Xu (0000-0002-3215-3496, Fujian University of Technology), Miao Miao (0000-0002-7383-2858, Peking University, autor correspondente)
Ano2022
Volume25
Fascículo10
Páginas641-648
Data de publicação2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2152-2715 • E-ISSN: 2152-2723
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1089/cyber.2022.0047
PMID36099179
OpenAlexW4295498036
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas49

Online health-related misinformation has become a major problem in society and in-depth research is needed to understand its propagation patterns and underlying mechanisms. This study proposes a psychological typhoon eye effect to understand how health-related misinformation spreads during the pandemic using two national studies. In Study 1, we collected online search data from the United States and China to explore the relationship between the physical distance from the epicenter and the spread of health-related misinformation. Two common pieces of health-related misinformation were examined: “Microwaves kill coronavirus” in the United States and “Taking a hot bath can prevent against COVID-19” in China. Our results indicated a “typhoon eye effect” in the spread of two actual pieces of health-related misinformation using online data from the United States and China. In Study 2, we fabricated a piece of health-related misinformation, “Wash Clothes with Salt Water to Block Infection,” and measured the spread behavior and perceived credibility of the misinformation. Again, we observed a typhoon eye effect on the spread behavior as well as the perceived credibility of health-related misinformation among people with limited education. In addition, based on the stimulus–organism–response theory, perceived credibility could serve as a mediator in the relationship between physical distance from the epicenter and the spread of health-related misinformation. Our results highlight the importance of psychological approaches to understanding the propagation patterns of health-related misinformation. The present findings provide a new perspective for development of prevention and control strategies to reduce the spread of health-related misinformation during pandemics

Computer security · Credibility · Disease · Environmental health · Health communication · Internet privacy · Misinformation · Pandemic · Pathology · Political science · Communication · Computer Science · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy