Information behavior during Covid-19: differences of South American and German media users, their confidence with information provision and handling of misinformation

Abstract

During crises, the kind of information, people need and require differ due to a changing environment and personal situation. Covid-19 represents a worldwide crisis, a pandemic. Already after the first Covid-19 cases occurred, more information was required. People all over the world are experiencing a new and difficult time which is formed by anxiety, insecurity, and passion. All media and channels are providing information about the situation, regulation, health advice, and personal interests. This amount of possible information can lead to information overload which in return has an effect towards information avoidance. However, also fake news and conspiracy theories get more and more attention. It is necessary to understand how people seek and evaluate information in different parts of the world.
This study provides a first comparison of individuals’ perception and behavior due to Covid-19 from different countries. All countries share aspects during this global health crisis, but there are also big differences: «[…] each country has its unique political and social systems that affect information behavior and environments». Therefore, as a follow up study to Dreisiebner, März, and Mandl, individuals from Germany and South America were asked through an online survey about their information provision confidence, information seeking behavior, media usage and handling of fake news during Covid-19. Furthermore, besides differences between the countries, behavioral changes are investigated.