Examination Of The Role Of Twitter On Covid-19 Information Dissemination To The Populace

Examination Of The Role Of Twitter On Covid-19 Information Dissemination To The Populace

CHAPITER 1

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY OF THE STUDY

The respiratory infections caused by the infectious illness coronavirus (Covid-19) range from the ordinary cold to more serious respiratory issues. The Hunan seafood market in Wuhan, China, where live bats, snakes, raccoon dogs, and other wild creatures were sold in December 2019 (Shereen et al., 2020, pp. 91–98), is where it first appeared. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization proclaimed it to be a pandemic (WHO, 2020). Out of a staggering total of 10,514,028 positive cases—which, tragically, rises exponentially every day—the virus is reported to have caused roughly 512,311 deaths globally since its detection (WHO, 2020). An Italian man who landed in Nigeria on February 25, 2020, became the virus’s first victim. After exhibiting viral symptoms, he was admitted to an isolation center in Yaba, Lagos (NCDC 2020). The number of instances thereafter rose.

Social media has been bombarded with COVID-19-related content as the world struggles to cope with the epidemic (Hieken 2020). Even though all social media sites (such as Facebook, Instagram, and blogs) were sharing information on the Covid-19 and medical material at the time, Twitter may have consistently played the most important role (Hieken 2020).

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging site where users can publish messages using “tweets” that have a character count cap of 240. Twitter, on the other hand, encourages conversation and public participation on a range of human topics. As a result, the public has had a lot of opportunity to connect and spread knowledge about a variety of concerns because to Twitter’s unrestricted interactive nature (Micheal 2002). Twitter has been utilized more frequently during the past ten years as a venue for people to share opinions, facts, and criticism. Every hour, thousands of tweets with the hashtag #FOAMed are posted, and COVID-19 is the most popular topic at this crucial time in medical history. With the free-flow of messages and information regarding the extreme actions taken by the world against Covid-19. Therefore, the goal of this research is to evaluate Twitter’s impact on the public’s access to Covid-19 information.

Statement of the problem: 1.2

Twitter and other social media are utilized in the Nigerian context to keep up with events around the world and to throw light on the Nigerian issue. In Nigeria, Twitter is widely used, especially since the introduction of affordable android smartphone telephony. Worryingly, there is a deluge of half-truths and inaccurate information available on Twitter networks, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.

The Covid-19 and the government-enacted lockdown measures made people entirely reliant on the media; as a result, no other pandemic has ever had the impact that Twitter had during this time on information distribution. This study is therefore conducted in light of this note.

3.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study is primarily concerned with studying Twitter’s impact on the populace’s access to Covid-19 information from a Nigerian perspective. To accomplish this, the following goals have been identified:

to determine whether Twitter significantly contributed to the spread of knowledge about the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.

to determine the degree to which information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria was made available through the use of Twitter.

to determine the degree of veracity of the information spread on Twitter during COVID-19.

Research hypothesis (1.4)

Twitter did not significantly contribute to the dissemination of information about COVID-19 in Nigeria.

1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STUDIES

This study reveals the effectiveness of social media in disseminating information across national boundaries and can be used as a tool to promote and spread business-related or non-profit ideas. It is without a doubt relevant information for all individuals, organizations, and governments. This study will also help other researchers who might, for a variety of reasons, conduct research on subjects relevant to the one being studied.

1.6 THE STUDY’S SCOPE

Only Twitter’s participation in the public transmission of Covid-19 information is the subject of this investigation. The Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where Dutse is located, is the subject of this study.

Limitations of the research

Like all human endeavors, this research project had significant challenges that may have jeopardized its successful conclusion.

One of the reasons is that the researcher did not have enough time to complete the task thoroughly due to the limited time period allotted for this activity.

Additionally, the researcher had to expend extra effort while gathering data to evaluate the respondents’ interview schedules because some of them fell within the incomprehensible age range.

Above all, there were transportation and financial limitations.

1.8 TERM DEFINITION

Social media: Social media is a computer-based technology that makes it easier to share information, ideas, and thoughts by creating online communities and networks.

Twitter: Known as “microblogging,” Twitter is a platform that enables you to send and receive brief updates known as tweets. Tweets may contain links to pertinent websites and other information and may have up to 140 characters.

Dissemination is the act or process of broadly disseminating information through distribution, spreading, broadcasting, or other means. The phrase is particularly used in relation to the dissemination of information or objects like files and documents that contain information.

Covid-19: The new virus that causes the illness known as COVID 19 coronavirus is spreading quickly around the globe. It may have an impact on the lungs and airways of your respiratory system. When infected individuals cough or sneeze, germs that end up on hands and surfaces can cause transmission from one person to another.