The influence of public health information sharing on social media during the early COVID-19 outbreak
Data Technologies and Applications
ISSN: 2514-9288
Article publication date: 6 September 2021
Issue publication date: 15 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Social media have become famous platform to search and share the COVID-19-related information. The objective of this research is to bridge the gap by proposing the effects of network cluster and transmitter activity on information sharing process.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected by using Facebook application, which was available for 14 days (May 1–14) in 2020. These data were analyzed to determine the influence of the network cluster and transmitter activity.
Findings
The results showed that network cluster is positively related to transmitter activity on social media. In addition, transmitter activity partially mediated the effect of network cluster on the extent of information liked and shared. That is, transmitter activity can affect COVID-19-related information sharing on Facebook, and the activity effect is plausible and should become stronger as social network become denser.
Originality/value
This study has contributed to the knowledge of health information sharing in social media and has generated new opportunities for research into the role of network cluster. As social media is firmly entrenched in society, researches that improve the experience or quality for users is potentially impactful.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was partially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C. under grant MOST 107-2410-H-034-015-.
Citation
Chen, C.-C. and Chiu, Y.-P. (2022), "The influence of public health information sharing on social media during the early COVID-19 outbreak", Data Technologies and Applications, Vol. 56 No. 2, pp. 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/DTA-09-2020-0232
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited