#Coronavirus on TikTok: user engagement with misinformation as a potential threat to public health behavior.

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-related misinformation is prevalent online, including on social media. The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with user engagement with COVID-related misinformation on the social media platform, TikTok. A sample of TikTok videos associated with the hashtag #coronavirus was downloaded on September 20, 2020. Misinformation was evaluated on a scale (low, medium, and high) using a codebook developed by experts in infectious diseases. Multivariable modeling was used to evaluate factors associated with number of views and presence of user comments indicating intention to change behavior. One hundred and sixty-six TikTok videos were identified and reviewed. Moderate misinformation was present in 36 (22%) videos viewed a median of 6.8 million times

SUBMITTER: Baghdadi JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9949581 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature