Gratifications behind Sharing of Fake News on Social Media Regarding Covid-19

Authors

  • Barira Bakhtawar PhD Scholar, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Dr. Faiza Latif Associate Professor, School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Shabana Asgher Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47205/plhr.2022(6-II)77

Keywords:

COVID-19, Fake News, Social Media, Uses and Gratifications

Abstract

Due to their potential for causing serious damage, disinformation and fake news have greatly concerned the researchers of mass media globally during the vulnerable times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study objectives are to identify the motivations behind sharing of fake news regarding COVID-19 on social media and to examine if the results of the current study are consistent with the previous study findings of Apuke & Omar (2021) relating to Nigeria. We have conducted a survey (N=300) by testing six hypothesis using the theoretical framework of uses and gratifications. The study results differ from that of the previous study and have indicated that entertainment and pass time are the major gratifications behind sharing news regarding COVID-19 on social media in Pakistan. The research recommends the government and policymakers in designing a strategy for controlling the spread of fake news related to health sector on social media in Pakistan.

Image of Vol. 6 No. 2 (2022): April to June

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Published

2022-06-30

Details

    Abstract Views: 244
    PDF Downloads: 169

How to Cite

Bakhtawar, B., Latif, F., & Asgher, S. (2022). Gratifications behind Sharing of Fake News on Social Media Regarding Covid-19. Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review, 6(2), 908–921. https://doi.org/10.47205/plhr.2022(6-II)77

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2022): April to June

Section

Articles

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