Purpose

This study developed a predictive model that established the user motivational factors that predict COVID-19 fake news sharing on social media.

Design/methodology/approach

The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for the analysis. Data were drawn from 152 Facebook and WhatsApp users in Nigeria to examine the research model formulated using the uses and gratification theory (UGT).

Findings

We found that altruism, instant news sharing, socialisation and self-promotion predicted fake news sharing related to COVID-19 pandemic among social media users in Nigeria. Specifically, altruism was the strongest predictor to fake news sharing behaviour related to COVID-19, followed by instant news sharing and socialisation. On the contrary, entertainment had no association with fake news sharing on COVID-19.

Practical implications

We suggest intervention strategies which nudge people to be sceptical of the information they come across on social media. We also recommend healthcare providers and the Nigerian government to provide relevant information on this current pandemic. That is, correct information should be shared widely to the public domain through various conventional and online media. This will lessen the spread of fake news on the concocted cure and prevention tips found online.

Originality/value

The salient contributions of this study are as follows: First, it brings to the fore that the desire for self-promotion is associated with fake news sharing on social media; second, it shifts the focus of studies on fake news from detection methods to sharing behaviour, which fuels the uncontrollable spread of falsehood; third, it expands the existing literature on misinformation sharing by demonstrating the user motivation that leads to fake news sharing using the UGT.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19大流行期间假新闻共享中的用户动机：使用和满足理论的应用

目的

这项研究开发了一种预测模型，该模型建立了可预测社交媒体上COVID-19假新闻共享的用户动机因素。

设计/方法/方法

使用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）进行分析。数据来自尼日利亚的152个Facebook和WhatsApp用户，以检查使用使用和满足理论（UGT）制定的研究模型。

发现

我们发现利他主义，即时新闻共享，社交和自我促进预测了尼日利亚社交媒体用户中与COVID-19大流行有关的虚假新闻共享。具体而言，利他主义是假冒与COVID-19相关的新闻共享行为的最有力预测因素，其次是即时新闻共享和社交。相反，娱乐与COVID-19上的虚假新闻共享无关。

实际影响

我们建议采取干预策略，以使人们对社交媒体上遇到的信息持怀疑态度。我们还建议医疗保健提供者和尼日利亚政府提供有关当前大流行病的相关信息。也就是说，正确的信息应该通过各种常规和在线媒体广泛地共享到公共领域。这样可以减少网上炮制的预防和​​治疗秘诀上虚假新闻的传播。

创意/价值

这项研究的主要贡献如下：首先，它使人们对自我促进的渴望与在社交媒体上分享虚假新闻有关。其次，它将对假新闻的研究重点从检测方法转移到共享行为，这加剧了虚假行为的不可控制的传播。第三，它通过展示导致使用UGT进行虚假新闻共享的用户动机，扩展了有关错误信息共享的现有文献。