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COVID-19 in the Twitterverse, from epidemic to pandemic: information-sharing behavior and Twitter as an information carrier

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  • Miyoung Chong

    (University of Virginia)

  • Han Woo Park

    (YeungNam University)

Abstract

In this study, we defined a Twitter network as an information channel that includes information sources containing embedded messages. We conducted stage-based comparative analyses of Twitter networks during three periods: the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the period when the epidemic was becoming a global phenomenon, and the beginning of the pandemic. We also analyzed the characteristics of scientific information sources and content on Twitter during the sample period. At the beginning of the epidemic, Twitter users largely shared trustworthy news information sources about the novel coronavirus. Widely shared scientific information focused on clinical investigations and case studies of the new coronavirus as the disease became a pandemic while non-scientific information sources and messages illustrated the social and political aspects of the global outbreak, often including emotional elements. Multiple suspicious, bot-like Twitter accounts were identified as a great connector of the COVID-19 Twitterverse, particularly in the beginning of the global crisis. Our findings suggest that the information carriers, which are information channels, sources, and messages were coherently interlocked, forming an information organism. The study results can help public health organizations design communication strategies, which often require prompt decision-making to manage urgent needs under the circumstances of an epidemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Miyoung Chong & Han Woo Park, 2021. "COVID-19 in the Twitterverse, from epidemic to pandemic: information-sharing behavior and Twitter as an information carrier," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(8), pages 6479-6503, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:126:y:2021:i:8:d:10.1007_s11192-021-04054-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-04054-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:cup:cbooks:9780511761942 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Kim Holmberg & Han Woo Park, 2018. "An altmetric investigation of the online visibility of South Korea-based scientific journals," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(1), pages 603-613, October.
    3. Hyejin Park & Han Woo Park, 2018. "Research evaluation of Asian countries using altmetrics: comparing South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 771-788, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bin Yang & Naipeng Chao & Cheng-Jun Wang, 2023. "A solid camp with flowing soldiers: heterogeneous public engagement with science communication on Twitter," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.

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