Abstract:

This study examined the views of people who entered the quarantine process during the Covid-19 pandemic period on the accuracy and reliability of information published on the internet news sites and in particular on social media platforms regarding the pandemic. During the Covid-19 pandemic process, which has been influenced globally for more than a year, intense and uninterrupted information shares are being made on the internet news sites and social media channels; some of these shares can be proven to be accurate, while some remain anonymous and cannot be relied on a reliable source. Infodemia, a concept that is as important as the disease itself and that must be interfered, has emerged as a global public health problem, especially due to the facilities provided by the internet. The relevant literature has found that analyses were made on publications about the pandemic and social media sharing and survey applications on the pandemic process with people were carried out. But the lack of studies with people who entered the quarantine process constitutes the importance of this research. In this study, which aims to examine the views of people who entered the quarantine process during the Covid-19 pandemic period on the accuracy and reliability of information published on the internet news sites and in particular on social media, organized conversations were conducted in order to collect data. The interviews consist of 10 participants, including 5 women and 5 men, with different demographic characteristics. As a result of the talks, the participants said that the rates of internet use in the quarantine processes were increased and that the 'catastrophic scenarios' related to the pandemic were removed for the purpose of scaring people. The participants also said in the context of the information they obtained from the internet and social media they did not trust Covid-19 and they did not want to be vaccinated due to negative rumors about the vaccine.

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