Reliability and trust perception of users on social media posts related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
The study examined the different parameters to determine the reliability and trust perception of users on the social media posts about COVID-19. Responses were collected from randomly selected social media users using structured close-ended questions. The study examined the underpinned hypothesis by the Goffman’s theory and Bourdieu’s theory. Hypothesis testing was done using Chi-square test to analyze the different parameters, to test the reliability and trust perception of users on social media posts. Our analysis showed that the parameters such as source authenticity, cross-checking of information, real-time news etc were not dependent on frequency of use of social media by respondents. It was found that most of the social media posts about COVID-19 were not so reliable and trustworthy. However, social media posts which are shared by competent persons such as doctors, medical practitioners etc. were trusted by the people. We believe our research will be beneficial in understanding the perception of users toward social media in case of a disease outbreak such as COVID-19.
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The timeliness of information has no significant effect on information trust in the context of COVID-19 information behaviors on social media.
“However, one study focused on COVID-19 information behaviors on social media found that the timeliness of information had no signifcant efect on information trust [104].”
From What Do We Mean When We Talk about Trust in Social Media? A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [104]
Although timely information positively influences people's trust in information from social media, the timeliness of a social media post had no significant effect on people's trust in that post during COVID-19.
“Additionally, our review has also shown that although timely information positively infuences people's trust in information from social media, this timeliness of a social media post had no signifcant efect on people's trust in that post during COVID-19 [104].”
From What Do We Mean When We Talk about Trust in Social Media? A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [104]
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- Authors
- Tayal, P., & Bharathi. S, V.
- Affiliations
- Symbiosis International University (IN)
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
- Corresponding author
- Tayal, Pulkit
- Venue
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-01-04
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1-4
- Pages
- 325-339
- ISSN
- 1091-1359 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-3556
- OpenAlex
- W3119223550
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4
- FWCI
- 5.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social Sciences › Communication › Public Relations and Crisis Communication
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, social media, information reliability, trust perception, authenticity of sources, real-time news, health information, outbreak, social media use frequency
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