Information literacy competence in curtailing fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduates in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose The continuous spread of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated public health concern with avalanche of information accompanied by series of fake news. Thus, this study examined the effect of Information Literacy Competency (ILC) in curtailing the spread of fake news among Library and Information Science (LIS) undergraduates in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Survey research design of the descriptive type was used to generate data from a group of LIS undergraduates online. The population of the study consisted of 138 LIS undergraduate students who participated in the survey (thus, n = 138). The data retrieved was subjected to descriptive analysis. Findings The study revealed that the students had high level of ILC (x ¯ = 3.42), and there was low prevalence level of COVID-19 pandemic fake news (x ¯ = 2.35) among them. The major causes of COVID-19 fake news were too much information in circulation concerning COVID-19 (x ¯ = 3.44) and the resultant inability to discern or spot fake news from verified and authentic news (x ¯ = 3.28). The study also revealed that ILC had a significant effect in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 fake news with a grand mean of 3.28 against the criterion mean of 2.5. It is implied that LIS undergraduates are educationally position to acquire ILC which is crucial to their identification of fake news and helps to curtail its spread. Research limitations/implications The study is limited in its use of online group for data elicitation within a limited period of three weeks. Also, in its adoption of self-evaluation scale to measure ILC instead of standard information literacy test. Also, the high chances of social desirability bias in sections C and E serve as a limitation to the study. Practical implications The study reinforces the need to enhance structures that flags fake news on social media platforms and integrating IL into schools’ curriculum at all levels. Originality/value This study seeks to pioneer a new area of focus on the relevance of ILC to different global issues that concern the health and well-being.

A scoping review of COVID-19 online mis/disinformation in Black communities

“…Articles discussing theories on the origin of COVID-19 were consistent in reporting that Black communities believed rumours that the COVID-19 virus was created as a biological weapon [ 31 , 34 , 37 , 43 , 44 , 47 ]. The frequently cited origin of the COVID-19 virus was that it was: man-made for population control [ 31 , 34 ]; manufactured in China and US laboratories for vaccine-related monetary schemes [ 34 , 43 , 44 ]; linked to some of the world elite, resentment of the West, and authoritarian attitudes and policies directed towards African countries [ 34 ]; or caused by fifth-generation technology for broadband cellular networks (5G) radiation [ 31 , 37 , 44 ]. A study that tracked real-time rumours on COVID-19 found people in Cote d’Ivoire believed the virus was intentionally manufactured in a laboratory to kill people, with the danger now being over [ 47 ].…”

“…A considerable portion of the Black population believed in disinformation about the transmission, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19 spread through social media [ 30 , 31 , 33 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 47 ]. For instance, many purported the belief that following alternative prevention and treatment methods would prevent or cure COVID-19; these included: drinking hot water [ 30 , 41 , 44 ], inhaling steam [ 30 ], using herbal remedies [ 31 , 39 , 41 , 47 ], eating certain foods [ 33 , 37 , 44 , 47 ], drinking alcohol [ 28 , 37 , 44 , 47 ], drinking a saline solution of warm water and salt or vinegar [ 37 ], using drugs such as hydroxychloroquine [ 36 , 41 , 43 ], constant exposure to sunlight [ 37 ] and hot temperatures [ 28 , 35 ] or cold temperatures [ 28 ]. Some believed that engaging in constant sex and sitting in the sun [ 36 ] or shaving their beard [ 39 ] would prevent the transmission of COVID-19.…”

Social media affordances and information abundance: Enabling fake news sharing during the COVID-19 health crisis

“…8 The spread of fake news could be attributed to the increase in the use of social media platforms for information sharing. 14 It has been observed that the excessive flow of COVID-19 information on social media is a major cause of the spread of COVID-19 fake news. 15 Thus, we contend that due to the affordance social media provide which enables the easy sharing of information, the numerous messages on COVID-19 already on social media as well as the tension and anxiety, people will rarely authenticate information before sharing.…”

“…Research has stated that the spread of fake news could be attributed to the increase in the use of social media platforms for information sharing. 14 Additionally, it has been observed that the excessive flow of COVID-19 information is a major cause of the spread of COVID-19 fake news. 15 Entertainment and self-promotion has been found to promote misinformation regarding COVID-19.…”

Digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria

“…The survey was left open for a period of four weeks, and reminders were sent to the respondents are different intervals. This approach has gained wide acceptance in the field of library and information science and it is in line with Igbinovia et al (2020) who used Google Form to elicit data within a three weeks period. The data collected were then analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Science, and the descriptive statistics of percentages were used.…”