Effects of misinformation on COVID-19 individual responses and recommendations for resilience of disastrous consequences of misinformation

Barua, Zapan; Barua, Sajib; Aktar, Salma; Kabir, Najma; Li, Mingze

Abstract Proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms is faster than the spread of Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19) and can generates hefty deleterious consequences on health amid a disaster like COVID-19. Drawing upon research on conspiracy theories, credibility evaluations, and misinformation, the current study empirically examines the effects of misinformation beliefs on COVID-19 individual responses. Using a self-administered online survey during COVID-19 pandemic, the study obtained 483 useable responses and after test, finds that, all inclusive, the propagation of misinformation on social media undermines the COVID-19 individual responses. Particularly, credibility evaluation of misinformation strongly predicts the COVID-19 individual responses with positive influences and religious misinformation beliefs as well as conspiracy beliefs come next and influence negatively. The findings and general recommendations will help public in general to be cautious about misinformation, and respective authority of a country in particular for initiating proper safety measures about disastrous misinformation in order to protect the public health from being exploited.