Fake news in a time of plague: Exploring individuals' online information management in the COVID-19 era

Online health information is critical during pandemics. Previous research has focused on examining antecedents or consequences of particular information behaviors (e.g., seeking, sharing), but the process by which one information behavior influences or transforms into other information behaviors remains poorly understood. Guided by theories of information behavior and the literature on online misinformation, this study proposes an interaction model of online information behaviors that theorizes relationships among online information scanning, misinformation exposure, misinformation elaboration, information sharing, and information avoidance. Conducting a two-wave representative panel survey in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 1501), we found that online information scanning at Wave 1 had a direct, positive impact on misinformation exposure and information sharing at Wave 2, while it did not have an impact on information avoidance at Wave 2. Additionally, misinformation exposure was positively related to both information sharing and information avoidance at Wave 2. Importantly, we underlined that evaluations of crisis-related misinformation are aided by misinformation elaboration, which plays a moderating role in catalyzing appropriate information behaviors. Results of this study could help scholars and practitioners propose evidence-based interventions for enhancing the public's ability to manage crisis information on the Internet in times of heightened uncertainty.

Automated summary

Online health information is crucial in pandemics, and understanding the process of how different information behaviors are related is important. This study proposes an interaction model that theorizes relationships among online information scanning, misinformation exposure, misinformation elaboration, information sharing, and information avoidance. Through a two-wave panel survey in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that online information scanning directly influenced misinformation exposure and information sharing, but not information avoidance. Additionally, misinformation exposure was related to both information sharing and information avoidance. Misinformation elaboration played a moderating role in catalyzing appropriate information behaviors. The findings have implications for interventions in crisis information management on the Internet.