Gratifications behind Sharing of Fake News on Social Media Regarding Covid-19
Barira Bakhtawar · PAKISTAN LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES REVIEW · 2022
Due to their potential for causing serious damage, disinformation and fake news have greatly concerned the researchers of mass media globally during the vulnerable times of the COVID-19 pandemic.The study objectives are to identify the motivations behind sharing of fake news regarding COVID-19 on social media and to examine if the results of the current study are consistent with the previous study findings of Apuke & Omar (2021) relating to Nigeria.We have conducted a survey (N=300) by testing six hypothesis using the theoretical framework of uses and gratifications.The study results differ from that of the previous study and have indicated that entertainment and pass time are the major gratifications behind sharing news regarding COVID-19 on social media in Pakistan.The research recommends the government and policymakers in designing a strategy for controlling the spread of fake news related to health sector on social media in Pakistan.