Information about the COVID-19 pandemic – A thematic analysis of different ways of perceiving true and untrue information
Open accessAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is classified as an infodemic with the circulation of vast amounts of true and untrue information, especially through social media. The study’s aim was to explore different articulations of people’s understanding, handling and evaluation of (true) information, misinformation and disinformation in general and specifically linked to social media related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to illuminate the complexity of the construction of true information. A latent thematic analysis of qualitative data from an international web-based survey on COVID-19 and social media was carried out. The analysis resulted in five themes showing participants’ understanding and assessment of what is deemed as (true) information, misinformation and disinformation. An underlying dominant medico-political discourse on COVID-19 was seen in the articulations about COVID-19. There were expressions showing that scientific knowledge and political viewpoints were met with both blind trust and scepticism, journalists’ information represented a conglomerate of truth and lies, healthcare professionals’ recognition vacillated between trusted and guessing experts, social media were an arena for all kinds of information, and the need for filtering information on COVID-19, although this was impossible as knowledge of COVID-19 was generally considered to be uncertain. What was understood as (true) information, misinformation or disinformation was dependent on the viewpoint of the information consumers and influences potentially affecting their perspectives. Social media could be used to support one’s point of view, whether in line with the dominant medico-political discourse on COVID-19 or not.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Prior experiences with and attitudes towards the trustee are essential antecedents of trust in information found on social media.
“People's prior experiences with and attitudes towards the trustee infuence their perceptions of that trustee and have been shown to be essential antecedents of trust in information found on social media [5,31,32,40,122].”
From What Do We Mean When We Talk about Trust in Social Media? A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [32]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa · Cited by 194,414 · see citing works
Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste*
Bourdıeu, P. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315680347-10 · Cited by 20,319 · see citing works
The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
Rothan, H. A., & Byrareddy, S. N. (2020) · Journal of Autoimmunity · doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102433 · Cited by 5,840 · see citing works
Bateson, G. (2000) · University of Chicago Press eBooks · doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226924601.001.0001 · Cited by 5,545 · see citing works
Roy, D., Tripathy, S., Kar, S. K., Sharma, N., Verma, S. K., & Kaushal, V. (2020) · Asian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102083 · Cited by 1,759 · see citing works
Pennycook, G., McPhetres, J., Zhang, Y., Lu, J. G., & Rand, D. G. (2020) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797620939054 · Cited by 1,715 · see citing works
Health care-associated infections – an overview
Haque, M., Sartelli, M., McKimm, J., & Bakar, M. A. (2018) · Infection and Drug Resistance · doi:10.2147/idr.s177247 · Cited by 1,207 · see citing works
The pandemic of social media panic travels faster than the COVID-19 outbreak
Depoux, A., Martin, S., Karafillakis, E., Preet, R., Wilder-Smith, A., & Larson, H. (2020) · Journal of Travel Medicine · doi:10.1093/jtm/taaa031 · Cited by 1,068 · see citing works
Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and best practices.
(2014) · PubMed Central · Cited by 1,011 · see citing works
COVID-19, ACE2, and the cardiovascular consequences
South, A. M., Diz, D. I., & Chappell, M. C. (2020) · American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00217.2020 · Cited by 779 · see citing works
Types, sources, and claims of Covid-19 misinformation
Brennen, J. S., Simon, F., Howard, P., & Nielsen, R. (2023) · Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism · doi:10.60625/risj-awvq-sr55 · Cited by 663 · see citing works
Assessing the risks of ‘infodemics’ in response to COVID-19 epidemics
Gallotti, R., Valle, F., Castaldo, N., Sacco, P., & De Domenico, M. (2020) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-020-00994-6 · Cited by 591 · cited 1× · see citing works
“All of them add to the COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’ (Gallotti et al., 2004; Newman et al., 2019; World Health Organization, 2020a, 2020b).”
BackgroundCasero-Ripollés, A. (2020) · El Profesional de la Informacion · doi:10.3145/epi.2020.mar.23 · Cited by 538 · see citing works
Social Media and the Arab Spring: Politics Comes First
Wolfsfeld, G., Segev, E., & Sheafer, T. (2013) · The International Journal of Press/Politics · doi:10.1177/1940161212471716 · Cited by 511 · see citing works
Pulido, C., Villarejo-Carballido, B., Redondo-Sama, G., & Gómez, A. (2020) · International Sociology · doi:10.1177/0268580920914755 · Cited by 449 · see citing works
Pennycook, G., McPhetres, J., Zhang, Y., Lu, J. G., & Rand, D. G. (2020) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/uhbk9 · Cited by 390 · see citing works
RajÄáni, J. (2021) · Microbiology & Infectious Diseases · doi:10.33425/2639-9458.1120 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
Li, C., Chen, L. J., Chen, X., Zhang, M., Pang, C. P., & Chen, H. (2020) · Eurosurveillance · doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.10.2000199 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
Work-related COVID-19 transmission in six Asian countries/areas: A follow-up study
Lan, F., Wei, C.-F., Hsu, Y., Christiani, D. C., & Kales, S. N. (2020) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233588 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Kinross, P., Suetens, C., Dias, J. G., Alexakis, L., Wijermans, A., Colzani, E., & Monnet, D. L. (2020) · Eurosurveillance · doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.11.2000285 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Anderson, M., Schulze, K., Cassini, A., Plachouras, D., & Mossialos, E. A. (2019) · The Lancet Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30415-3 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Vraga, E. K., Stefanidis, A., Lamprianidis, G., Croitoru, A., Crooks, A. T., Delamater, P. L., Pfoser, D., Radzikowski, J., & Jacobsen, K. H. (2018) · Journal of Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10810730.2017.1421730 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Parker, R. (2020) · Cited by 75 · see citing works
The Self and its World: A Neuro-Ecological and Temporo-Spatial Account of Existential Fear.
Scalabrini, A., Mucci, C., Angeletti, L. L., & Northoff, G. (2020) · PubMed Central · doi:10.36131/clinicalnpsych20200203 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Medical information and social media in the time of COVID ‐19
Mulrennan, S. A., & Colt, H. G. (2020) · Respirology · doi:10.1111/resp.13832 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Cairns, E. (1997) · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Information, misinformation og disinformation : En sprogfilosofisk analyse
Søe, S. O. (2014) · Nordisk Tidsskrift for Informationsvidenskab og Kulturformidling · doi:10.7146/ntik.v3i1.25959 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“I Read the News Today, Oh Boy”
Kabat‐Zinn, J. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01356-z · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Luque, N., Diaz, W., Valverde, J., Pons, M. J., Cillóniz, C., Trujillo, O., Barrera, M. L., & Salcedo, C. (2018) · Critical Care Medicine · doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0000551108.05223.99 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 32 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Bourdieu, P. (1995). 'What talking means'. In Sociology in question (pp. 60-71). London: Sage Publications. London.
- qp063oa · DOI · Paper page
- S177247 · DOI
- Newman, N., Fletcher, R., Kalogeropoulous, A., & Nielsen, R. K. (2019). Reuters institute digital news report 2019. Reuters institute for the study of journalism. Oxford.
- Nielsen, R. K., Fletcher, R., Newman, N., Brennen, J. S., & Howard, P. N. (2020). Navigating the 'infodemic': How people in six countries access and rate news and information about coronavirus. Report. Reuters institute, oxford internet institute and oxford maritime school. Oxford.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Karidakis, M., Woodward‐Kron, R. E., Amorati, R., Hu, B., Pym, A., & Hajek, J. (2022) · Qualitative Health Communication · doi:10.7146/qhc.v1i1.127258 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
What Do We Mean When We Talk about Trust in Social Media? A Systematic Review
Zhang, Y., Gaggiano, J. D., Yongsatianchot, N., Suhaimi, N. M., Kim, M., Sun, Y., Griffin, J., & Parker, A. G. (2023) · Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581019 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Stjernswärd, S., Ivert, A., & Glasdam, S. (2021) · Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1007/s10389-021-01539-5 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationStjernswärd, S., & Glasdam, S. (2021) · Social Sciences & Humanities Open · doi:10.1016/j.ssaho.2021.100211 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationMisinformation about medication during the COVID– 19 pandemic: A perspective of medical staff
Coman, C., Bularca, M. C., Repanovici, A., & Rogozea, L. M. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276693 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Sarelska, D., & Jenkins, J. (2022) · Journalism Practice · doi:10.1080/17512786.2022.2153075 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Disinformation as a threat to national security on the example of the COVID-19 pandemic
Sługocki, W., & Sowa, B. (2021) · Security and Defence Quarterly · doi:10.35467/sdq/138876 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Kang, E., Ju, H., Kim, S., & Choi, J. (2024) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18403-2 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Lim, G., & Perrault, S. T. (2023) · Mobile communication in Asia · doi:10.1007/978-94-024-2225-2_11 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Glasdam, S., Xu, H., & Gulestø, R. J. A. (2024) · Nursing Inquiry · doi:10.1111/nin.12642 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citationLimit your body area -a COVID-19 mass radicalisation challenging autonomy and basic human rights
Glasdam, S., & Stjernswärd, S. (2021) · International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare · doi:10.1108/ijhrh-07-2020-0055 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationHasselström, A. E., & Larsson, A. O. (2025) · Information Communication & Society · doi:10.1080/1369118x.2025.2498691 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Glasdam, S., & Stjernswärd, S. (2022) · Current Sociology · doi:10.1177/00113921221090251 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationWho wants to grow old in Welfare Sweden?
Marić, J. (2022) · European Conference on Social Media · doi:10.34190/ecsm.9.1.335 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Martín, F. (2023) · Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico · doi:10.5209/esmp.77874 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Stjernswärd, S., Tilgmann, C., & Glasdam, S. (2024) · Ethics & Human Research · doi:10.1002/eahr.500197 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationIMPACT OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS: INFORMATIONAL ASPECT
Shul'ha, M. G., Mazur, A. V., & Georgiievskyi, І. (2021) · Wiadomości Lekarskie · doi:10.36740/wlek202111222 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
PROLIFERATION OF HEALTH MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
(2021) · Issues in Information Systems · doi:10.48009/3_iis_2021_81-95 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
How the Media Can Facilitate Public Deliberation in Crisis Events
Fan, L. (2021) · Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in social science, education and humanities research · doi:10.2991/assehr.k.210519.167 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Wolska-Zogata, I. (2022) · Acta Universitatis Lodziensis Folia Sociologica · doi:10.18778/0208-600x.82.04 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Persuasive Communication Strategies To Reduce Student Anxiety About Infodemic Covid-19 Through Memes
Gushevinalti, G. (2023) · New Media and Mass Communication · doi:10.7176/nmmc/104-06 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Kohti parempaa viranomaisten disinformaatiotilannetietoisuutta
Sommarberg, S., Alaraatikka, M., & Sederholm, T. (2024) · Hallinnon Tutkimus · doi:10.37450/ht.131286 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Stjernswärd, S., Ivert, A., & Glasdam, S. (2021) · Journal of Media Research · doi:10.24193/jmr.40.2 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationInformační chování českých a slovenských studentů v období pandemie COVID-19
Dombrovská, M., & Rankov, P. (2021) · ITlib Informačné technológie a knižnice · doi:10.52036/1335793x.2021.3-4.7-14 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sharma, S. S., Kaur, D., Chawla, T. K., & Kapoor, V. (2021) · Indian Journal of Community Health · doi:10.47203/ijch.2021.v33i01.026
Marketing communication of prevention measures during the pandemic in Croatia
Topić, M., Zeman, M. G., & Holy, M. (2022) · Suvremene teme · doi:10.46917/st.13.1.3
EVALUATION OF HEALTH INTELLIGENCE STUDIES IN TURKEY
DEMİRKASIMOĞLU, M. (2023) · Journal of Criminology and Criminal Law · doi:10.47152/rkkp.61.1.6
Stjernswärd, S., Meier, M., O’Donnell, K., Wamsler, C., Åkerström, M., & Glasdam, S. (2023) · Nordic Journal of Social Research · doi:10.18261/njsr.14.1.4
Self-citationMicheletti, M., & Verhaegen, S. (2023) · Scandinavian Political Studies · doi:10.1111/1467-9477.12261
Kang, E., Ju, H., Kim, S., & Choi, J. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26700643
- Authors
- Glasdam, S., & Stjernswärd, S.
- Affiliations
- Lund University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Glasdam, Stinne
- Venue
- Social Sciences & Humanities Open
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 100090
- ISSN
- 2590-2911 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3108419994
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10
- FWCI
- 8.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Social Sciences & Humanities Open (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Lund University, Sweden
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Academic Publishing and Open Access
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, infodemic, misinformation, disinformation, social media, trust in experts, information filtering, skepticism, scientific knowledge, healthcare workers
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
