scholarly journals COVID-19 Exposes Digital Divide, Social Stigma and Information Crisis in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Aziz ◽  
Mohammad Morshedul Islam ◽  
Muhammad Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Religious Faith ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Communication Practice ◽  
Digital Surveillance ◽  
Health Related

This paper gives an overview of digital inequalities and sociocultural factors (e.g., stigma, religious faith) associated with health-related misinformation during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. It aims to explore how digital inequalities, digital surveillance, socio-cultural and religious factors, and health-related misinformation spread through social media have further exacerbated the crisis. Highlighting the growing digital inequalities and health crisis in Bangladesh, it proposes some recommendations to ensure digital inclusion and improve overall public health education and change behaviour in order to mitigate the risks of COVID-19. This essay will provide a forum and research agenda for academicians and practitioners from the Global South to develop and identify new opportunities or challenges regarding emerging health crisis issues relevant to communication practice in the use of digital media and technology.

scholarly journals COVID-19 vaccine online misinformation in Fiji: Preliminary findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1and2) ◽  
pp. 47-62
Author(s):  
Romitesh Kant ◽  
Rufino Varea ◽  
Jason Titifanue
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Vast Array ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Preliminary Research

Digital media, opens a vast array of avenues for lay people to effectively engage with news, information and debates about important science and health issues. However, they have also become a fertile ground for various stakeholders to spread misinformation and disinformation, stimulate uncivil discussions and engender ill-informed, dangerous public decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, antivaccination social media accounts are proliferating online, threatening to further escalate vaccine hesitancy. The pandemic signifies not only a global health crisis, it has also proven to be an infodemic characterised by many conspiracy theories. Prior research indicates that belief in health-related conspiracies can harm efforts to curtail the spread of a virus. This article presents and examines preliminary research findings on COVID-19 vaccine related misinformation being circulated on Fijian Facebook Forums.

scholarly journals Who Can I Trust in a Scary World? An Examination of the Objects of Trust, Information Sources and Social Distancing Intention amid COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5321
Author(s):  
Lu Wei ◽  
Tien-Tsung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Research ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Individual Outcomes ◽  
Information Exposure ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
The Relationship

Trust is a central construct of social research. While numerous studies have investigated trust as either a dependent or independent variable, little attention has been paid to its relationship with health-related behaviors in the context of a public health crisis. How trust in different entities influences people’s social distancing intention is therefore an important question that merits academic scrutiny. Moreover, the relationship between trust and social distancing intention cannot be well understood without an account of the information environment. As previous studies have reached a consensus about the limited effects of information exposure on individual outcomes, this research focuses on possible moderating effects. Results show that information exposure, no matter via interpersonal or media sources, has no direct effects on behavioral intention. Rather, risk communication serves as a moderator of the relationship between trust and social distancing intention.

The Structuration of Digital Ecosystem, Privacy, and Big Data Intelligence

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 1319-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jin Park ◽  
Jae Eun Chung ◽  
Dong Hee Shin
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Data Practices ◽  
Digital Ecosystem ◽  
Digital Surveillance ◽  
The Status ◽  
Data Surveillance ◽  
Data Ecosystem

This study presents a conceptual model of understanding algorithmic digital surveillance systems, borrowing insight from Giddens, who proposed the notion of structuration as social practices deriving from the intersection between structure and agents. We argue that the status of privacy, or lack of it, is a product of these interactions, of which the personal data practices and related interests constitute the reproduction of a data ecosystem. We trace the process of data production and consumption, dissecting the interactive dynamics between digital media producers (personal data users) and users (personal data producers). Inadequacies, limits, and social and policy implications of data surveillance and its algorithmic reproduction of identities are discussed.

scholarly journals Be Safe or Be Seen? How Russian Activists Negotiate Visibility and Security in Online Resistance Practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetyana Lokot
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Social Discourse ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Discursive Space ◽  
Digital Surveillance ◽  
Security Practices ◽  
State Surveillance ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Constant State

This paper examines how Russian opposition activists negotiate online visibility—their own and that of their messages and campaigns—and the security concerns brought on by the pervasive digital surveillance that the state resorts to in order to reinstate its control over the online discursive space. By examining the internet-based presence and activity of the members of Alexey Navalny’s FBK (Anti-Corruption Foundation) and other opposition activists, the paper traces connections between everyday security practices that these activists engage in online and the resistance tactics and repertoires they enact in an environment where the free and open exchange of information on the Russian internet is becoming increasingly difficult. The analysis finds that Russian opposition activists place a high value on digital, media, and security literacy and that navigating the internet using security tools and protocols such as VPN, two-phase authentication, and encrypted messaging is increasingly seen as the default modus operandi for those participating in organised dissent in Russia to mitigate growing state surveillance. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that Russian activists have to balance the need for security with growing visibility—a key factor for entering the mainstream political and social discourse. The tension between being secure and being visible emerges as a key aspect of resistance practices in an environment of near-constant state surveillance, as activists concurrently manage their safety and visibility online to minimise the risks posed by government spying and maximise the effect of their dissent.

School-Based Mental Health

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Everett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
School Based ◽  
Educational Advocacy

The majority of children and adolescents in need of mental health services do not receive adequate care. Barriers to quality care include limited financial resources, social stigma, and a paucity of appropriately trained clinicians. The deleterious effects of untreated childhood mental illness have been well documented. School-based child and adolescent psychiatrists are on the front line of managing this public health crisis. Approximately 75% of mental health services for children and adolescents are provided in educational settings. The success of school-based mental health programs is contingent upon effective collaboration between the practitioner, caregiver, child/adolescent, and educator. In this chapter, a case is used to illustrate salient features of school-based psychiatric practice, including assessment tools, interventions, educational advocacy, and logistical considerations. The practice of public psychiatry in school-based settings should optimally adhere to the principles of recovery, resilience, and cultural competence.

Hashtag Islam

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R. Bunt
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Religious Faith ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Religious Practices ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Holistic Interpretation

This book explores the diverse ways digital technology is shaping how Muslims across vast territories relate to religious authorities in fulfilling spiritual, mystical, and legalistic agendas. From social networks to websites, essential elements of religious practices and authority now have representation online. Muslims, embracing the immediacy and general accessibility of the internet, are increasingly turning to cyberspace for advice and answers to important religious questions. Online environments often challenge traditional models of authority, however. One result is the rise of digitally literate religious scholars and authorities whose influence and impact go beyond traditional boundaries of imams, mullahs, and shaikhs. The book shows how online rhetoric and social media are being used to articulate religious faith by many different kinds of Muslim organizations and individuals, from Muslim comedians and women’s rights advocates to jihad-oriented groups, such as the “Islamic State” and al-Qaeda, which relied on strategic digital media policies to augment and justify their authority and draw recruits. Hashtag Islam makes clear that understanding CIEs is crucial for the holistic interpretation of authority in contemporary Islam.

scholarly journals Attitudes and Perceptions Toward COVID-19 Digital Surveillance: Survey of Young Adults in the United States

10.2196/23000 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e23000
Author(s):  
Lauren Maytin ◽  
Jason Maytin ◽  
Priya Agarwal ◽  
Anna Krenitsky ◽  
JoAnn Krenitsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Digital Surveillance

Background COVID-19 is an international health crisis of particular concern in the United States, which saw surges of infections with the lifting of lockdowns and relaxed social distancing. Young adults have proven to be a critical factor for COVID-19 transmission and are an important target of the efforts to contain the pandemic. Scalable digital public health technologies could be deployed to reduce COVID-19 transmission, but their use depends on the willingness of young adults to participate in surveillance. Objective The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of young adults regarding COVID-19 digital surveillance, including which aspects they would accept and which they would not, as well as to determine factors that may be associated with their willingness to participate in digital surveillance. Methods We conducted an anonymous online survey of young adults aged 18-24 years throughout the United States in June 2020. The questionnaire contained predominantly closed-ended response options with one open-ended question. Descriptive statistics were applied to the data. Results Of 513 young adult respondents, 383 (74.7%) agreed that COVID-19 represents a public health crisis. However, only 231 (45.1%) agreed to actively share their COVID-19 status or symptoms for monitoring and only 171 (33.4%) reported a willingness to allow access to their cell phone for passive location tracking or contact tracing. Conclusions Despite largely agreeing that COVID-19 represents a serious public health risk, the majority of young adults sampled were reluctant to participate in digital monitoring to manage the pandemic. This was true for both commonly used methods of public health surveillance (such as contact tracing) and novel methods designed to facilitate a return to normal (such as frequent symptom checking through digital apps). This is a potential obstacle to ongoing containment measures (many of which rely on widespread surveillance) and may reflect a need for greater education on the benefits of public health digital surveillance for young adults.

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life and social constraints among Chinese breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunying Cui ◽  
Lie Wang ◽  
Xiaoxi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Women ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Most research studying social constraints has been performed among Caucasian or Asian American breast cancer (BC) patients, but few studies have evaluated social constraint levels and explored the effect of social constraints on the integrative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Chinese BC patients. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the association of social constraints with HRQOL among Chinese women with BC. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 136 Chinese women diagnosed with BC in Liaoning Province, China, from December 2020 to May 2021. Questionnaire information contained HRQOL, social constraints, social support, social stigma, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the association of psychological factors with HRQOL. Results The mean score of FACT-B was 96.05 (SD = 18.70). After controlling for potential confounders, social constraints (Beta =  − 0.301, P < 0.001) and social stigma (Beta =  − 0.241, P = 0.001) were negatively associated with HRQOL and social support (Beta = 0.330, P < 0.001) was positively associated with HRQOL, which explained 44.3% of the variance in HRQOL. Conclusions The findings of the current study suggest that Chinese BC patients’ HRQOL needs to be enhanced after treatment. Social constraints have a strong association with HRQOL. Intervention strategies focusing on less personal disclosure should be considered to avoid social constraints and improve HRQOL among Chinese patients with BC.

scholarly journals “I did my own research”: Overconfidence, (dis)trust in science and conspiracy theories endorsement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Vranic ◽  
Ivana Hromatko ◽  
Mirjana Tonković
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Reasoning Abilities ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Health Related

<p>Epistemically suspect beliefs, such as endorsement of conspiracy theories or pseudoscientific claims are widespread even among highly educated individuals. The phenomenon of conspiratorial thinking is not new, yet the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a global health crisis of an unprecedented scale, facilitated the emergence and rapid spread of some rather radical health related pseudoscientific fallacies. Numerous correlates of the tendency to endorse conspiracy theories have already been addressed. However, many of them are not subject to an intervention. Here, we have tested a model that includes predictors ranging across stable characteristics such as demographics (gender, age, education, size of the place of residence), less stable general traits such as conservatism and overconfidence in one’s own reasoning abilities, to relatively changeable worldviews such as trust in science. A hierarchical regression analysis (<i>N</i>=859 participants) showed that included predictors explained a total of 46% of the variance of believing in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, with only gender, overconfidence and trust in science yielding significance. Trust in science was the strongest predictor, implying that campaigns aimed at enhancing public trust in both science as a process, and scientists as individuals conducting it, might contribute to the reduction in susceptibility to pseudoscientific claims. Furthermore, overconfidence in one’s own reasoning abilities was negatively correlated with an objective measure of reasoning (syllogisms test), and positively with the endorsement of conspiracy theories, indicating that so-called Dunning-Kruger effect plays a role in pseudoscientific conspiratorial thinking regarding COVID-19.</p>

scholarly journals Assessing the quality, readability and reliability of online information on COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e3591210680
Author(s):  
Paulo Cardoso Lins-Filho ◽  
Millena Mirella Silva de Araújo ◽  
Thuanny Silva de Macêdo ◽  
Andressa Kelly Alves Ferreira ◽  
Maria Cecilia Freire de Melo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Content Quality ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Health Related

During a public health crisis, the dissemination of reliable information, advice and experts’ opinions is essential for improving public comprehension of potential or actual health threats and enables the public to take informed decisions about risk mitigation measures. This study aimed to assess the quality, reliability and readability of internet-based information on COVID-19 available on Brazil’ most used search engines. A total of 68 websites were selected through Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The websites content quality and reliability were evaluated using the DISCERN questionnaire, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and the presence of the Health on Net (HON) certification. Readability was assessed by the Flesch Reading Ease adapted to Brazilian Portuguese (FRE-BP). The web contents were considered moderate to low quality according to DISCERN and JAMA mean scores. Most of the sample presented very difficult reading levels and only 7.4% displayed HON certification. Websites of Governmental and health-related authorship nature showed lower JAMA mean scores and quality and readability measures did not correlate to the webpages content type. COVID-19 related contents available online were considered of low to moderate quality and not accessible to general population. These findings indicate the need for further efforts on improving the quality of health-related content on internet, especially during public health emergencies.

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