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Cited by 178Communication and COVID-19 ImpactMedia Studies and CommunicationMisinformation and Its Impacts

News Avoidance during the Covid-19 Crisis: Understanding Information Overload

Open access
de Bruin, Kiki, de Haan, Yael, Vliegenthart, Rens, Kruikemeier, Sanne, Boukes, Mark·2021·Digital Journalism
DOI 10.1080/21670811.2021.1957967
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Abstract

This study investigates the degree of news avoidance during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Based on two panel surveys conducted in the period April–June 2020, this study shows that the increased presence of this behavior, can be explained by negative emotions and feelings the news causes by citizens. Moreover, news avoidance indeed has a positive effect on perceived well-being. These findings point to an acting balance for individual news consumers. In a pandemic such as Covid-19 news consumers need to be informed, but avoiding news is sometimes necessary to stay mentally healthy.

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Crossref · 10.1080/21670811.2021.1957967

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Authors
de Bruin, K., de Haan, Y., Vliegenthart, R., Kruikemeier, S., & Boukes, M.
Affiliations
  • Research Group Journalism, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Digital Journalism
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2021-08-06
Volume
9
Issue
9
Pages
1286-1302
ISSN
  • 2167-0811 (ISSN-L)
  • 2167-082X
DOI
10.1080/21670811.2021.1957967
OpenAlex
W3187445336
Cited by
161
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 5
FWCI
34.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Digital Journalism (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Media Studies and Communication
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
Keywords
news avoidance, COVID-19 pandemic, information overload, news consumption, negative emotions, perceived well-being, mental health, news consumers

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