scholarly journals COVID-19, Social Media, and the Role of the Public Physician

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Joel M. Topf ◽  
Paul N. Williams

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an avalanche of information, much of it false or misleading. Social media posts with misleading or dangerous opinions and analyses are often amplified by celebrities and social media influencers; these posts have contributed substantially to this avalanche of information. An emerging force in this information infodemic is public physicians, doctors who view a public presence as a large segment of their mission. These physicians bring authority and real-world experience to the COVID-19 discussion. To investigate the role of public physicians, we interviewed a convenience cohort of physicians who have played a role in the infodemic. We asked the physicians about how their roles have changed, how their audience has changed, what role politics plays, and how they address misinformation. The physicians noted increased audience size with an increased focus on the pandemic. Most avoided confronting politics, but others found it unavoidable or that even if they tried to avoide it, it would be brought up by their audience. The physicians felt that confronting and correcting misinformation was a core part of their mission. Public physicians on social media are a new occurrence and are an important part of fighting online misinformation.

Epidemiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-94
Author(s):  
Mst. Marium Begum ◽  
Osman Ulvi ◽  
Ajlina Karamehic-Muratovic ◽  
Mallory R. Walsh ◽  
Hasan Tarek ◽  
...  

Background: Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease, mostly present in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus is spread by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitos and symptoms include high fever to severe joint pain. Dhaka, Bangladesh, suffered an outbreak of chikungunya in 2017 lasting from April to September. With the goal of reducing cases, social media was at the forefront during this outbreak and educated the public about symptoms, prevention, and control of the virus. Popular web-based sources such as the top dailies in Bangladesh, local news outlets, and Facebook spread awareness of the outbreak. Objective: This study sought to investigate the role of social and mainstream media during the chikungunya epidemic. The study objective was to determine if social media can improve awareness of and practice associated with reducing cases of chikungunya. Methods: We collected chikungunya-related information circulated from the top nine television channels in Dhaka, Bangladesh, airing from 1st April–20th August 2017. All the news published in the top six dailies in Bangladesh were also compiled. The 50 most viewed chikungunya-related Bengali videos were manually coded and analyzed. Other social media outlets, such as Facebook, were also analyzed to determine the number of chikungunya-related posts and responses to these posts. Results: Our study showed that media outlets were associated with reducing cases of chikungunya, indicating that media has the potential to impact future outbreaks of these alpha viruses. Each media outlet (e.g., web, television) had an impact on the human response to an individual’s healthcare during this outbreak. Conclusions: To prevent future outbreaks of chikungunya, media outlets and social media can be used to educate the public regarding prevention strategies such as encouraging safe travel, removing stagnant water sources, and assisting with tracking cases globally to determine where future outbreaks may occur.


Publika ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 215-226
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD RIZAL FIRDAUS ◽  
Muhammad Farid Ma'ruf

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui masalah Partisipasi dalam Program Pemberdayaan Masyarakat yang ada di RW 20 Kelurahan Citrodiwangsan. Peneliti menggunakan metode riset kualitatif . Responden dalam penelitian ini yaitu kader dan warga RW 20 Kelurahan Citrodiwangsan. Data dikumpulkan dengan wawancara dan observasi. Penelitian ini menghasilkan tiga temuan. Pertama, partisipasi perencanaan masih tergolong kurang pro aktif dalam mengedukasi warga dikarenakan masih banyak RT yang tidak bisa mewadahi dan mengedukasi masyarakat untuk aktif dalam kegiatan Posyandu Gerbangmas. Kedua, terkait partisipasi pelaksanaan kegiatan masih banyak masyarakat yang memandang sebelah mata kegiatan ini meskipun seluruh warga telah diikutkan secara menyeluruh, hal ini karena kurangnya sosialisasi dari pengurus kader. Ketiga, faktor penghambat yaitu kurangnya memahami arti partisipasi yang rendah dimana masyarakat masih sibuk dengan kesibukannya sendiri serta kurangnya peran RT untuk mendorong masyarakatnya dalam memberikan pengertian akan pentingnya kegiatan posyandu. Oleh karena itu, dari beberapa masalah-masalah yang telah peneliti temukan maka peneliti memiliki saran yang bertujuan untuk memaksimalkan kader maupun RT dalam mengajak masyarakat. Saran tersebut diantaranya adalah pelaksanaan posyandu dilaksanakan pada hari libur, kegiatan posyandu tidak hanya ditempatkan pada satu titik tetapi dijadwalkan untuk berpindah ketempat kawasan lainnya dan memanfaatkan fasilitas media sosial untuk memberikan sosialisasi dan informasi kesehatan balita dan lansia. Kata kunci: masalah partisipasi, program pemberdayaan masyarakat, partisipasi perencanaan, partisipasi pelaksanaan, faktor penghambat partisipasi   This study aims to determine the problem of participation in the Community Empowerment Program in RW 20 Citrodiwangsan Village. Respondents in this study were cadres and residents of RW 20 Citrodiwangsan Village. Data were collected by interview and observation. This study resulted in three findings. First, planning participation is still classified as less proactive in educating residents because there are still many RTs that cannot accommodate and educate the public to be active in Gerbangmas Posyandu activities. Second, with regard to participation in the implementation of activities, there are still many people who underestimate this activity even though all residents have been included as a whole, this is due to the lack of socialization from the cadre management. Third, the inhibiting factor is the lack of understanding of the meaning of low participation where the community is still busy with their own activities and the lack of the role of the RT in encouraging the community to provide an understanding of the importance of posyandu activities. Therefore, from some of the problems that researchers have found, the researcher has suggestions that aim to maximize cadres and RTs in inviting the community. These suggestions include that the implementation of posyandu is carried out on holidays, posyandu activities are not only placed at one point but are scheduled to move to another area and utilizing social media facilities to provide socilization and health information for toddlers and the elderly. Keywords: participation problems, community empowerment programs, planning participation, implementation participation, inhibiting factors for participation


2021 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Shrivastava P ◽  
Verma S ◽  
Khushboo Khushboo ◽  
Bhattacharya P K

Despite the ubiquity of health-related communications via social media, no consensus has emerged what information should be conveyed and how it should be conveyed to avoid creating panic among general population. With lockdowns social media, mass media became as a habit by people for news, information regarding COVID-19 and it is practiced even after lockdown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mass media, social media and local news has become as the source of a toxic “infodemic” source for public. It contained both solicited and unsolicited advice. No conceptual model exists for examining the roles of media. It is important to rst assess the important mis-information, role of infodemics and prevalent casualness among the public regarding the COVID-19. Till mass vaccination is not commenced it is prudent to emphasize guidelines and practices as per COVID guidelines like social distancing, wearing mask, hand hygiene


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Silvia Widya Kusumaningtyas ◽  
Zon Vanel

<span lang="IN">Social media is one type of new media that facilitates the process of communication among human. Social media makes it easy for users to communicate and share information in a wider range. At present, not only people use Instagram, but the government also needs to keep up with the time to participate in using Instagram as an online information media. Public Relations of the Salatiga Government is one of the public relations departments that uses Instagram as an online information media to provide information needed by the community.<br /> This research aimed to find out how the content of the information was<span>  </span>and how the role of instagram was as an information deliverance to the citizen by the public relations of Salatiga. Through qualitative methods research, data is collected by means of interviews and observations. The results showed that the Salatiga <span> </span>Government Public Relations Instagram account had a role to increase brand awareness, connect many people and as a source of information/ business promotion.Public Relations of the Salatiga Government considers that Instagram plays an active role in conveying information to the public. This is seen from the many positive responses received by the Salatiga City Government Public Relations during managing Instagram as a modern information deliverance.<span>     </span></span>


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Izmy Khumairoh

Abstract This article analyzes the close relationship between religion (i.e. religious discourses in the context of everyday life) and modernization (i.e. the intensive and excessive use of social media in society). This article is based on literature and social media review—in particular it reviews on how the role of religion changed drastically due to mediatization process that occurs in the public sphere; as well as how the social media plays a dynamic role in society. This article concludes that the new image of religion as shown in mass media and social media demonstrates its shifting power from traditional institutions to mass and social media. Religious value immerses into every aspect of the everyday life and the religious aura; and this phenomenon neglects the secularization theory. Keywords: anthropology, social media, marriage, Islam  Abstrak Artikel ini menganalisis hubungan erat antara agama (yaitu wacana keagamaan dalam konteks kehidupan sehari-hari) dan modernisasi (yaitu penggunaan media sosial yang intensif dan eksesif dalam masyarakat). Analisis berdasar pada studi literatur dan observasi di dunia maya - termasuk beberapa akun media sosial dan interaksi antara netizen - terutama bahasan mengenai perubahan peran agama yang drastis akibat proses mediatisasi yang di ranah publik; sebagaimana media memainkan peran dinamis dalam masyarakat. Artikel ini menyimpulkan bahwa citra baru agama, yang terpampang di media massa dan media sosial, mencerminkan pergeseran kekuasaan agama dari institusi tradisional ke media. Nilai-nilai agama terus menemukan celah untuk memasuki setiap aspek kehidupan dan mencakup aspek aura agama sehingga fenomena ini tidak sesuai dengan teori sekulerisasi. Kata kunci: antropologi, media sosial, pernikahan, Islam


Author(s):  
Abdelfattah Mohammed Said Alkhawaja, Shahin Mohammed Ali Kam

The main of this study is to identify the motivation for using social media among grade (11-12) school students at Al-Buraimi governorate in Oman through the following variables (class, gender, time, type of media mostly visited & the purpose of using the site). Among sample (240 male & female) students, who were distributed into 13 different schools from Al-Buraimi, mahdah & as-sunaynah. A questionnaire of motivation for using Social Media has been used. The sample percentage was 13% of the whole population target. The results showed that there are no statistical differences between grade 11 and grade 12 students in using social media. In addition, there is no significant difference in (gender) in using social media. Also, the study revealed that the most highlighted usage of social media amongst the study sample was for exploring the public culture. While the results showed that the number (155) of the study sample, which means (60%), they are using social media according to the available conditions. (47.9%) percentage of the sample was on social media about (1-3 hours). The most popular site was Instagram. The study recommended activating the role of the school administration, teacher & social worker in the school for helping students to take the benefit from social media & address the negative aspects of these means through school radio, lectures, seminars, scientific journals & etc.


Author(s):  
Elitza Katzarova

What role is there for publicity in the global anti-corruption debate? This chapter introduces the concepts of “transparency” and “publicity” as analytical tools that account for differentiated channels through which the availability of information can induce social change. Two case studies provide insights into the role of traditional media in comparison to new social media. The first case analyzes the role of Western news coverage during the negotiations of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in the mid-1990s and the threat of publicity as a negotiation strategy. The second case investigates the role of social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in the success of the anti-corruption strike carried out by Indian social activist Anna Hazare in 2011. By introducing and further applying the conceptual toolkit of “transparency” and “publicity” to both cases, this chapter argues that transparency requires publicity or in the case of the OECD negotiations—the threat of publicity—in order for the anti-corruption campaign to be successful. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the ramifications for transparency and publicity as tools for social change.


Author(s):  
Anteneh Ayanso ◽  
Darryl Moyers

Social media is promising new opportunities across a broad spectrum of public services. As the Internet and its ubiquitous applications extend globally, an increasing number of governments and their public service agencies are embracing social media as one of the major mechanisms to interact with the public. Social media provides a new wave of Web-based applications and channels for citizens to share constructive ideas and opinions and play active roles in various areas in the public sector. At the same time, social media helps government organizations and elected officials of different government levels to actively listen to citizens and constantly monitor their existing services as well as develop new initiatives. Effective integration of Web 2.0 technologies and applications into existing Internet infrastructure adds visibility and accountability in the public sector and enhances services to citizens.


Author(s):  
Víctor Hernández-Santaolalla

Social media brings to the forefront two very important factors to today's politics: the prominent role of the internet and the importance of personalisation which is closely tied to a tendency of political candidates to overexpose their private lives. This does not mean that the candidate becomes more relevant than the political party or the ideological platforms thereof, but the interest tends to fall on the candidate's lifestyle; on their personal characteristics and their most intimate surroundings, which blurs the line between the public and private spheres. Online profiles are used as a showcase for the public agenda of the politician at the same time as they gather, on a daily basis, the thoughts, tastes and leisure time activities of the candidates. This chapter offers a reflection of the ways in which political leaders develop their digital narratives, and how they use the social media environment to approach citizens.


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