A Retrospective Analysis of the COVID-19 Infodemic in Saudi Arabia

Ashwag Alasmari, Aseel Addawood, Mariam Nouh, Wajanat Rayes and Areej Al-Wabil
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Ashwag Alasmari: Computer Science Department, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Aseel Addawood: Information System Department, Imam Mohammad Bin Saud University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Mariam Nouh: Center for Complex Engineering Systems (CCES) at KACST and MIT, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
Wajanat Rayes: Department of Information Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Areej Al-Wabil: College of Engineering, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia

Future Internet, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: COVID-19 has had broad disruptive effects on economies, healthcare systems, governments, societies, and individuals. Uncertainty concerning the scale of this crisis has given rise to countless rumors, hoaxes, and misinformation. Much of this type of conversation and misinformation about the pandemic now occurs online and in particular on social media platforms like Twitter. This study analysis incorporated a data-driven approach to map the contours of misinformation and contextualize the COVID-19 pandemic with regards to socio-religious-political information. This work consists of a combined system bridging quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess how information-exchanging behaviors can be used to minimize the effects of emergent misinformation. The study revealed that the social media platforms detected the most significant source of rumors in transmitting information rapidly in the community. It showed that WhatsApp users made up about 46% of the source of rumors in online platforms, while, through Twitter, it demonstrated a declining trend of rumors by 41%. Moreover, the results indicate the second-most common type of misinformation was provided by pharmaceutical companies; however, a prevalent type of misinformation spreading in the world during this pandemic has to do with the biological war. In this combined retrospective analysis of the study, social media with varying approaches in public discourse contributes to efficient public health responses.

Keywords: infodemic; COVID-19 misinformation; social media; policy intervention; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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