To read this content please select one of the options below:

The influence of public health information sharing on social media during the early COVID-19 outbreak

Chiao-Chieh Chen (National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan)
Yu-Ping Chiu (National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan)

Data Technologies and Applications

ISSN: 2514-9288

Article publication date: 6 September 2021

Issue publication date: 15 March 2022

410

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

Related articles