FAKE NEWS ABOUT COVID-19 AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USERS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Social media is leading medium which is used for communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The abrupt episode of Corona pandemic has been joined by explosion of deception about the illness. As COVID-19 epidemic spread, virtual media outlets showed up as significant method for linking, just as a method of looking for and sharing the data about the illness. This examination targets estimating the mental impacts of phony news about COVID-19 via web-based media clients in Pakistan. Study is quantitative in nature. Survey method has been used to collect the data. The Direct Effects Model of Mass Media Theory has been employed on this study. The results of the study reveal that the element of anxiety, fear and stress are linked with social media users of Facebook. Facebook users have come across with these elements due to the circulation of fake news on Facebook and about COVID-19. This study recommends that there should be the gatekeeping mechanism to verify the authenticity of the news shared upon social media platforms. The social media authorities also need to pay heed to stop this prevailing issue, particularly in the age of pandemic when people become more vulnerable.