Understanding the Spread of Misinformation in Turkey in the Context of COVID-19 from the Perspective of Media Users and Developing Preventive Action Recommendations

The aim of the research is to understand the spread of misinformation in Turkey in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic from the eyes of users and to develop preventive action suggestions. In this direction, data were collected and analyzed with a mixed method consisting of representative surveys, media diaries, in-depth interviews and participant observation techniques between July and December 2020. Access to information about COVID-19 has been through online social networks and television. The frequency of use of media for access to information has increased with the epidemic. People and the social environment came to the fore as the most trusted information sources during the epidemic process. Among the social networks, Facebook is the platform where misinformation is most frequently encountered in the eyes of the participants, and discussion programs are among the traditional media types. More than half of media users do not check the accuracy of the information they access about COVID-19. During information evaluations, media users use information processing mechanisms such as asking close circles and using different sources, which can be intertwined with each other. Among the actions taken when confronted with suspicious information, the most common behavior is to consult the immediate social environment. About half of media users share this information with their relatives or followers when they encounter suspicious information. Media users share information and news about COVID-19 with their close social circles through messaging applications such as WhatsApp rather than social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. One of the research's action proposals is the development of collaborations, partnerships and joint programs between interdisciplinary research teams, platforms, publishers, non-governmental organizations, verification platforms and government agencies. These partnerships will foster sustainable interventions against misinformation, a system problem. One of the starting points of combating misinformation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic should be to accelerate the dissemination of correct information and to enable it. At the macro level, the first role of official institutions and individuals in the fight against misinformation is the transparent sharing of information about the epidemic with the public. It is inevitable for state institutions to take a role in solution areas at the mezzo and micro level. Some of these solution areas are increasing critical thinking-based media literacy.