The effect of official intervention on reducing the use of potentially discriminatory language during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Yiwei Jiang, Hsin-Che Wu () and Yihang Zuo
Additional contact information
Yiwei Jiang: Huzhou University
Hsin-Che Wu: Shandong University
Yihang Zuo: The University of Edinburgh

Palgrave Communications, 2023, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract This study used the Baidu Index to analyze searches using discriminatory language toward the source of the outbreak during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found a strong correlation between official intervention and a reduction in searches using discriminatory language. Following the official naming of the virus bt the government, the general public understood that searches using discriminatory language should be avoided, and search behavior dramatically changed. Meanwhile, this study also found that official intervention also overcame the effects of local socioeconomic factors. Regions with higher levels of socioeconomic development and higher population density had a stronger discriminatory language in internet searches, while the opposite was the case for regions with lower CPI and unemployment rates. However, after the official intervention, these factors no longer had a significant effect. It is recommended that officials worldwide provide early official media guidance during infectious disease outbreaks to reduce the use of discriminatory language and ensure the delivery of transparent and effective information to the public.

Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-023-02071-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-02071-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/palcomms/about

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02071-5

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Palgrave Communications from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().